Add MS 8369

LIFE OF POPE SIXTUS V: biography of Pope Sixtus V, Felice Peretti (1525-1590); 17th cent. Italian. Copy. Title (f. 40) 'Vita e morte di Sisto V'. Inc. ' Nacque Sisto V nella Marcha cio ì nel Castello delle Grotte luogho che mille e cinquecento Anime in circa nel Territorio di Montalto', expl. (f. 357) 'e di Loro non servirsene se non nelli più urgenti bisogne'. The main text is preceded by anonymous instructions to Cardinal Alessandro Damasconi Perreti de Montalto (1570-1623) on how to conduct himself as nephew of Pope Sixtus V, circa 1587. Title (f. 2) 'Instruttione et Avvertimenti all' Illustrissimo Cardinal Mont'alto sopra il modo col quale si possa, et debba ben governare come Cardinale, et Nipote di Papa'. Inc. (f. 2) 'La dignità di Cardinale è per se stessa in qualunque sia dignamente collocata amplissima, et sopraeminente, per esser quel sacro Collegio senato della Chiesa universale'. The same instructions were addressed to Cardinal Paul Emile Sfondrato as nephew of Pope Gregory XIV, circa 1590-1591, a copy of which is Add. 8376, ff. 35-83v. Latin version printed in Thesauri Politici, III, pp. 461-485 (Cologne, 1611), (BL copy 521.c.23). The main text begins with the birth of Felice Perretti and provides details his of education, entry into the Franciscans at an early age, his ordination in 1547 and appointment as Inquisitor General in Venice (1557-1560), Bishop (1566) and Cardinal (1570). The text also explains how as pope (1585-1590), Sixtus V promoted Counter-Reformation policies and oversaw the reorganisation of the Papal bureacracy, secretariat of state and curia as well as the reform of the religious orders and the College of Cardinals. Another copy in Italian in Eg. 1098. Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford, with shelfmark 'L/18/E' (front pastedown). '87' in pencil in upper left corner of front pastedown. Purchased, together with Add. 8366, 8368, 8369, 8382, 8391-8396, 8397, 8398, 8399, 8412, 8413, 8417, 8418, 8419-8425, 8462, 8487, 8515, 8525, 8589, 8660, 8706, 8721, 8722, 8723, 8724, 8424, 8425, 8727, 8753, 8754, 8755, 8772, from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 87 (part).

Paper; ff. 357. Old foliation in ink (1-317) ff. 41-357. 291 x 213mm. Horizontal catchwords on every page. Several 17th cent. hands. Guilford binding of quarter vellum with decorated paper covers over pasteboards.