Add MS 8274

VISCONTI LETTER-BOOK and MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTION of relazioni and tracts relating to the Papacy, Spain, Venice, Cyprus, and the League against the Turks during the papacy of Pius V (1566-1572); circa 1550-1572. Italian and Latin. Copies, 17th cent. The first part of the MS. (ff. 2-257) contains the second and third part of the letter-book of Carlo Visconti, Bishop of Ventimiglia and minister of Pope Pius IV at the concluding sessions of the Council of Trent (29 May 1562 - 6 Sept. 1563). The letters are dated 1563 and are addressed respectively to the papal legates at the Council of Trent (ff. 2-91v) and to Cardinal Carlo Borromeo (ff. 92-257) The first part, containing Visconti's letters addressed to Cardinal Borromeo and dated 1562, and originally from the same MS. as part 2-3, can be found in Add. 8278, ff. 120-388. Another copy of Visconti letter-book, in three-volumes, in King's MS. 15. The present MS. also includes: - (a) memorial given to King Philip II of Spain on the embassy of Cardinal Carlo Carafa, [1557] (ff. 258-261v); - (b) relazione of Cyprus, 1558 (ff. 262-282v); - (c) discourse addressed to Pope Pius V relating to the Crusade against the Turks, circa 1570 (ff. 283-341v); - (d) tract relating to the League against the Turks, 1572 (ff. 342-351v); - (e) discourse by Ascanio della Cornia relating to the League against the Turks, 1570 (ff. 352-360v), of which another copy in Add. 8391 (art. 26, ff. 317-322): for Ascanio della Cornia see Argegni, vol. i, p. 254; DBI, 36 (1988), pp. 761-767; - (f) tract relating to the papal election, in Latin (ff. 361-386). Table of contents (f. 1), added later. Marked '13' in ink at centre of lower edge. Stamp of the Colonna library 'Libraria Colonna' in red on ff. i, iii, 162, 386v, vi (verso); for the Colonna library stamp see Bragaglia, vol. iii, T 32: circa 1750. Previously believed to be from the library of Cardinal Giuseppe Renato Imperiali according to a note in Evans sale catalogue at lot 284. Owned by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, but lacking his armorial bookplate. '284' in pencil in upper left corner and 'Tomo XIII / A' in pencil in lower right margin of f. i. Purchased, together with Add. 8262-8273, 8275-8281, from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 284 (part).

Paper; ff. 386+vi, plus two unfoliated blanks after f. 261, one after ff. 282, 341, 360. Old foliation in ink '1-391' (ff. 2-386, iv-vi), repeating no. 57, omitting f. 219, including blanks. 267 x 200mm. Several Italian hands.