Add MS 8376

INSTRUZIONI DIVERSE: Instructions to Papal nuncios, cardinals and governors on how to govern and conduct themselves; circa 1582-1591. Italian. Copy. The present MS. is listed in P. O. Kristeller, Iter Italicum, IV (1989), p. 68a. Owned by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, but lacking his armorial bookplate. '392' in pencil in upper left corner of f. 1. Purchased, together with Add. 8340, 8356, 8406, 8475, 8481, 8535, 8675, 8702, 8732, 8763 and 8777, from R. H. Evans, 10 Dec. 1830, lot 392 (part).

Contents as follows:

1. ff. 1-34. 'Instruttione all' Illustrissimo Signore Pietro Gaietano datali dal Signore Cardinal suo zio quando andò in Fiandra fatta dal Peranna suo secretario', instructions from Cardinal Sermonetta (Enrico Caetani) to his nephew Pietro Caetani, on his appointment as Papal Nuncio in Flanders; 1590. Inc. 'Vostra Signore Illustrissima seguirà il suo viaggio con gl' ordini, et avertimenti havuti, et scriverà da ogni luogo, si come hà fatto sinqùi, acciòche con ogni Corriero, che venga à Roma'. For another copy in Italian see Cotton Galba VII, f. 16 (fragment), and in English, Add. 34216, ff. 50-57, Harley 1877, ff. 33-37, Harley 4288, ff. 98-102v and Sloane 1710, ff. 19-22. English version printed in Instructions for Young Gentlemen; or, The instructions of Cardinall Sermonetta to his Cousen Petro Caetano, at his first going into Flanders to the Duke of Parma to serue Philip, King of Spain (Oxford, 1633) (BL copy 722.a.8).

2. ff. 35-83v. 'Instruttione, et avertimenti all' Illustrissimo signore Cardinal Sfondrato sopra il modo col qual si possa et debba ben governare come Nipote di Papa', anonymous instructions to Cardinal Paul Emile Sfondrato (1561-1618) on how to conduct himself as nephew of Pope Gregory XIV; circa 1590-1591. Inc. 'La dignità del Cardinale per se stessa in qualunque sia collocata degnamente è amplissima et sopraeminente per esser quel sacro Collegio senato della chiesa universale'. The same instructions were addressed to Cardinal Alessandro Damasconi Perreti de Montalto as nephew of Pope Sixtus V, circa 1587, a copy of which is Add. 8369, ff. 2-39v.

3. ff. 84-120. 'Avertimenti, et ricordi al Signore Duca di Terranuova Governatore dello stato di Milano et Capitan General per sua Maestà Cattolica in Italia', advice from Don Scipio di Castro, political theorist, to Don Carlos de Aragón y Tagliavia, Duke of Terranova and Governor of Milan, concerning the government of the duchy of Milan and its relations with its neighbours; circa 1582. Inc. 'Vostra Eccellenza è talmente esercitata ne' i maneggi de gl' affari publici, et ne' I governi delli stati, che presumerebbe troppo di se'. Printed in Tesoro Politico (Milan, 1602), pp. 375-387 (BL Copy 521.c.21).

Paper; ff. 120 + interleaved blank. Modern foliation in pencil. 271 x 202mm. Horizontal catchwords on every page. One early17th-cent. hand. Watermark (f. 6) of a pilgrim in a circle similar to Briquet 7573 (Milan, 1590-1610). Guilford binding of quarter vellum with decorated paper covers over pasteboards.