[1586] Nég. Tosc., III, 886, 887.
[1587] Claude Haton, II, p. 735.
[1588] C. S. P. For., No. 1,100, July 23, 1573.
[1589] The existence of a plot to kidnap the duke of Anjou in Germany in order to force France to return the Three Bishoprics was suspected by Schomberg (Archives de la maison d’Orange-Nassau, IV, Appendix, Nos. 112, 113). The duke was also afraid to go to Poland by way of Germany, fearing to get into difficulties on account of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, which still vividly angered the Protestant princes (ibid., IV, Introd., p. xxvi, and pp. 15, 19, 26, 32). His first thought was to go by way of Venice and Ragusa, through Servia, Bulgaria, and Moldavia (Languet, Epist. secr., I, 197; Archives de la maison d’Orange-Nassau, IV, 168, note). The advantage of the ancient alliance between France and Venice at this time would have been great. There was also some thought of his going entirely by sea, and the good offices of England were invoked to protect his journey (Castelnau, ed. Le Laboureur, III, 345). The young prince of Condé had been invited to go along, but excused himself on the ground that he was afraid of being arrested for his father’s debts, “being a marvellously great sum.”—C. S. P. For., No. 1,245, December 12, 1573.
[1590] Ibid., No. 1,097, July 18, 1573, from Frankfurt.
[1591] Ibid., No. 1,177, September 20, 1573; Archives de la maison d’Orange-Nassau, IV, 295.
[1592] C. S. P. For., No. 1,168, September 18, 1573.
[1593] For Catherine’s intense interest in the Polish question, see Vol. IV of her Correspondance, passim, and Arch. de la maison d’Orange-Nassau, IV, 267.
[1594] Commentaires et lettres de Montluc, V, 299-306, 309-18, 322-24—a series of remarkable political judgments.
[1595] Archives de la maison d’Orange-Nassau, IV, 31; Appendix, No. 69 and p. 96.