Marc' Antonio Correr (1570-1638) was a Venetian nobleman and ambassador at the Stuart court. He was chosen to replace Zorzi Giustinian as ambassador in London in 1608. His letters give an insight into international politics and court life. In March 1609 Marc' Antonio Correr heard that Henrietta Stewart, Countess of Huntly had written to

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...

to intercede with King James for her husband,

George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly (156213 June 1636) was a Scottish nobleman who took a leading role in the political and military life of Scotland in the late 16th century, and around the time of the Union of the Crowns. Biography The son ...

, who was imprisoned in Scotland as a Catholic. King James replied to Henrietta that Anne of Denmark would not interfere with his royal orders. In September 1609, Correr had an audience with King James at

Wanstead Wanstead () is an area in East London, England, in the London Borough of Redbridge. It borders South Woodford to the north, Redbridge to the east and Manor Park to the south, with Leytonstone and Walthamstow to the west. It is located 8 m ...

after a day's hunting. Correr felt his news from Venice was urgent, concerning restrictions on the sale of ''An Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance'', and asked the

Duke of Lennox The title Duke of Lennox has been created several times in the peerage of Scotland, for Clan Stewart of Darnley. The dukedom, named for the district of Lennox in Dumbarton Dumbarton (; , or ; or , meaning 'fort of the Britons (histo ...

as chamberlain, to arrange an audience. The king was only half-dressed when Correr saw him. James joked about this interview in a letter to Robert Cecil describing Correr as a character from the

commedia dell'arte Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...

, "I have been this night surprised by the Venetian Ambassador, who, for all my hunting, hath not spared to hunt me out here! To be short, his chief errand was to tell me of a great fray in Venice betwixt my Ambassador there and that State about a prohibition that the Inquisition of Venice has set forth against the publishing of my book ... I write this unto you now, that in case this

Pantalone Pantalone (), spelled Pantaloon in English, is one of the most important principal characters found in commedia dell'arte. With his exceptional greed and status at the top of the social order, Pantalone is "money" in the ''commedia'' world. His ...

come unto you ye may give him the like deferring answer". The Old Palace - geograph

In October 1609 plague reached

Hampton Court Hampton Court Palace is a Listed building, Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. Opened to the public, the palace is managed by Historic Royal ...

with death of one of the grooms of the wardrobe, and another servant, and threatened King James at Royston. Another Venetian ambassador,

Francesco Contarini Francesco Contarini (Venice, 28 November 1556 – Venice, 6 December 1624) was the 95th Doge of Venice, reigning from 8 September 1623 until his death fourteen months later. He was a member of the House of Contarini, one of the founding fami ...

set out to join Correr in England. Two pastry cooks died of plague at Hampton Court in November. There was a rumour that two of the ladies in waiting had converted to Catholicism. One was

Arbella Stuart Lady Arbella Stuart (also Arabella, or Stewart; 1575 – 25 September 1615) was an English noblewoman who was considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I of England. During the reign of King James VI and I (her first cousin), she marrie ...

. Marc' Antonio Correr reported the doubly fatal duel in November 1609 between James Stewart, husband of

Dorothy Hastings Dorothy Hastings (1579 – after 1613) was a courtier to Elizabeth I of England and Anne of Denmark Dorothy Hastings was born in 1579, the daughter of George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon and Dorothy Port, daughter and co-heiress of Sir John ...

, and George Wharton. He wrote that King James moved out of London back to Royston in response to the duel, to avoid any bad feeling against his Scottish courtiers. He identified Wharton as a brother of the sister-in-law of

Henry Wotton Sir Henry Wotton (; 30 March 1568 – December 1639) was an English author, diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England, House of Commons in 1614 and 1625. When on a mission to Augsburg in 1604, he famously said "An amba ...

, the English ambassador in Venice. (Margaret Wharton was the wife of

Edward Wotton, 1st Baron Wotton Edward Wotton, 1st Baron Wotton (1548–1626) was an English diplomat and administrator. From 1612 to 1613, he served as a Lord of the Treasury. Wotton was Treasurer of the Household from 1616 to 1618, and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Kent ...

). Correr's son Vincenzo or Vicenzo came to England, and Henry Wotton wrote him a letter of personal recommendation to Prince Henry in Augusty 1608. Wotton noted that the Correr family were Venetian nobles, but not one of the 24 recognised "ancient houses". In August 1610 Correr went to see Prince Henry at

Richmond Palace Richmond Palace was a Tudor royal residence on the River Thames in England which stood in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Situated in what was then rural Surrey, it lay upstream and on the opposite bank from the Palace of Westminste ...

and

Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is ...

. They invited his son Vincenzo and his nephew Piero Loredan to go hunting with them. Correr indicated that King James was jealous of the popularity of Prince Henry, "the rising sun". At the end of November 1610 he reported the death of one of Jean Drummond's maids from the plague in her lodgings at

Greenwich Palace Greenwich ( , , ) is an area in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London, east-south-east of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian ...

and Anne of Denmark returned to

Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It ...

for fear of infection. Correr noted that

's masque '' Love Freed from Ignorance and Folly'' was twice postponed because of the delayed arrival of the French ambassador, the Marshal de Laverdin. Correr suggested the delay was also caused by problems with the stage machinery. His replacement as ambassador,

Antonio Foscarini Antonio Foscarini (c. 1570 in Venice – 22 April 1622) belonged to the Venetian nobility and was Venetian ambassador to Paris and later to London. He was the third son of Nicolò di Alvise of the family branch of San Polo and Maria Barbarigo di ...

, arrived in May. On his way to London he was met by Vincenzo Correr and Piero Loredan. Marc' Antonio Correr left England in June. King James knighted him at

Greenwich Greenwich ( , , ) is an List of areas of London, area in south-east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London, east-south-east of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime hi ...

and gave him 14 silver gilt cups and Anne of Denmark gave him a diamond ring with the royal portraits, and jewels and pearls for his wife, Elisabetta di Francesco Lippomano, and his son Vincenzo.Horatio Brown, ''Calendar State Papers Venice, 1610-1613'', vol. 12 (London, 1906), pp. 162-3 nos. 250, 253.

References

External links

CORRER, Marcantonio, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 29 (1983)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Correr, Marc' Antonio 17th-century English diplomats Ambassadors of the Republic of Venice to the Kingdom of England 1570 births 1638 deaths Republic of Venice nobility