470
NOTES AND QUERIES. [11 s. i. JUNE n, 1910.
In reference to his brother Sir Anthony
Standen, I find mention in ' Calendar of State
Papers, Scotland, vol. ii. 1589-1603, of
certain letters sent by him from Florence.
Two under date 1583, 23 March and 23 June
respectively, are addressed to the Archbishop
of Glasgow ; and two, dated 2 Oct., 1584,
and 28 April, 1585, to the Queen of Scots.
On again referring to these letters, I notice that they are described as those of Anthony Standen, the "Sir"' being omitted. Can they be those of the Anthony named in the epitaph, since the elder brother was knighted in 1559 ?
By far the most interesting of Sir Anthony's letters are to be found in the British Museum MSS. (1894-9). These belong to the years 1587-8. He writes under the name of Pompeo Pelligrini to Sir Francis Walsingham, who is described as Giacopo Mannucci. There are seven in all the first five from Florence, and the last two from Madrid. Space forbids me from more than briefly describing their contents and giving excerpts. The italics are as found in the MSS.
I. 11 Feb., 1587. He says that one Lewis has had the Bishopric of Cassano in Calabria, valued at 1,000 crowns yearly, assigned to him.
" These be liberalities of the K. of Spain to our Country which is a good token of his affec- tion and desire to do good to our Island, and the Catho: thereof."
The King of Spain has sent to Florence Giovanni Figliazzi, a Knight of Malta, "my great friend, and well known to Mr. Wade." The knight is described as very discreet and " none of these Boutefeus.'* He brings news " that the armada in Portugal is not to go to any place, nor to any other end is this, other than to be
in readiness, and to hold others in suspence
As for the Peace we are in hand withall, in Flanders, in Spain, nor elsewhere is believed, that Eng: meaneth other than fraud, and winning of tune."
II. 5 June, 1587. He speaks of prepara- tion in men, ships, and provisions being made in Italy for the Armada.
" The most and soundest opinion is, that this Voyage is about the Fortification of La Xaccia in Barberia, altho' they give out for England."
III. 3 July, 1587. The Marquis of Santa Cruz is making great haste, but he will not venture until the succours from Italy arrive
" The attempts of Sir Fra: Drake upon those coasts [i.e., of Spain] do make them all to tremble, and if upon his entring into the Port of Cades he had immediately landed, he had undoubtedly, and without contrast, put that rich Town to Sack, and made a great Booty, which they al
expected, for the Succours came not in sixteen
lours after, nevertheless. .. .the damage hath
been more than a Million of Crowns."
A Capt. Albanes has come from Nancy in Lorraine to levy 600 horsemen in Italy, ' he giveth out for the Service of the House of Lorrain, but the commissions are subscribed and sealed by the D. of Parma. And to conclude, my Fleming writeth flatly, that the next year is undoubtedly holden they intend to visit us in England with a mighty Force."
IV. 30 July, 1587. Mention of Italian preparations, some under Carlo Spinel li.
V. 28 Aug., 1587. The pillage of the ' Indian fleets " is not liked,
" and namely the last ship that came from Calicut where some of his Subjects are interest, and have lost a round portion. If the Fleet of the Peru should likewise fall in Drake's clutches, we English Catho: here should not be able to shew our faces, for I think they would Stone us to death in the Streets, such a general mislike is grown here of our Nation, within these two Months, about these matters, for that Italy more than any other Country is damnified by that, and the stop of that navigation, which following in this manner, will ruin many a Family, that now floweth in Wealth, and such as a while agone laughed at the abasement of Spain, discovering now their private intermeddled with the other, do cry out and become contraries."
" Where our Protestants at home, and as I hear some also of the council, have opinion, that this Pope hath a mind to garboil in Italy, or to advance his kin with the treasure he hath heaped together, herein shew they not to be acquainted tcith his humour, which is most alienate from that thought, for certain it is he thirsteth nothing more than the enterprise of England."
" WTiere you desire me to congratulate with our new Cardinal* about his Promotion, I think you may remember that these five years Rome hath been no place for me, about one Cavaliero Maycot, servant to Sir Fra s Walsing- ham, w r ho at that time conversed with me in Italy, I not knowing what he was: and altho' I have sought divers means to wind out of this Labyrinth, and to procure my absolution of the Inquisition, hitherto can I not obtain it. . . .and altho' I come not at Borne, yet have I good advices from our Friends there, as this last week cometh written unto me, that three Hereticks were burned, and in their Company the Effigy or Picture of Oralio Pallavicini, a Genoese Gent: that I hear liveth in our Soil."
Then follow references to Elizabeth, who is " still dallying to win time.'*
" Be careful how you write, I pray you, not in respect of me, but for yourself, living there under those rigorous Laws.... For my country I wish it were Catholic, or at least that Catholicks might. . . .live without molestation of Pursuivants, Sergeants, Sbirri, and such hungry Canaglia. To have the Religion restored by Violent hand, and that by our Mortal Foes, I never could like of ; rather wish I to be underground, than to see that doleful day. Thus you see how / icrite in a
- ' Dr. W. Allen, made Cardinal 4 Nov., 1586.
