Add MS 8533

DOCUMENTS relating to Synods and Episcopal Constitutions of the Florentine diocese; 1478, 1508, 1327. Latin and Italian. Copies, early 18th cent. The first two documents (arts. 1-2, ff. 1-21) relate to the Pazzi conspiracy against the rulers of Florence, Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici, and the consequent interdict laid on Florence by Sixtus IV in 1478. Art. 3 (ff. 22-112, 129v-170) is a copy of the episcopal constitutions of Florence published by Cosimo de' Pazzi, Archbishop of Florence, in 1508, on the basis of the synodal law issued by Francesco di Silvestro da Cingoli in 1327. It includes a copy (art. 4, ff. 113-129v) of the constitutions promulgated in Feb. 1327 by Cardinal Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, papal legate at Florence for Pope John XXII. The MS. is listed in Iter Italicum, IV (1989), p. 68a. On Florentine episcopal constitutions see R. C. Trexler, Synodal law in Florence and Fiesole, 1306-1518 (Vatican City, 1971; Studi e Testi, 268). 18th-cent. ownership note (f. i) 'Ex libris Joannis Philippi de' Scal[...]is', crossed out. Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford, with shelfmark 'L/18/C' (front pastedown). '569' in pencil in upper right corner of bookplate. Purchased, together with Add. 8506 and 8537, from R. H. Evans, 8 December 1830, lot 569 (part).

Contents as follows:

1. ff. 1-17. 'Synodale manifestum habitum in Ecclesia Catthedrale Florentiae die 27 Julii 1478. Sub Archiepiscopo Rinaldo de Orsinis contra interdictum Sixti IV ex quo Florentinam urbem alligaverat', manifesto issued by the Florentine Synod held in 1478 by Bishop Rinaldo Orsini, cousin of Lorenzo de' Medici, in response to the interdict of Sixtus IV; 1478. Latin and Italian. Inc. (f. 2) 'A.M.D.G. / 1478 / Florentina synodus in luce illa spiritus sancti congregata', expl. (f. 17) 'autem sunt lupi rapaces / Datum in Ecclesia nostra Cathedrali Sanctae Repartae 20 Julii 1478'. Printed in Florence in 1478, possibly by Niccolò di Lorenzo della Magna, and surviving in only one copy in Modena, Bibl. Estense, α.U.5.22 (2): cf. D. Fava, Catalogo degli incunaboli della Regia biblioteca... (Florence, 1928; Biblioteca di bibliografia italiana, 7), p. 118, no. 623, GW, 10049, and ISTC, if00207300. Published later from the original MS. (shelfmark in 1861: Florence, Archivio di Stato, Carte Strozziane, App. filza i, ins. 3 bis=n. 381) by A. Fabroni, Adnotationes et monumenta ad Laurentii Medicis Magnifici Vitam pertinentia, vol. ii (Pisa: Iacopo Grazioli, 1784), pp. 136-166, B.L. copy 1200.cc.6: cf. A. Poliziano, Della congiura dei pazzi..., ed. A. Perosa (Padua, 1958), pp. xxx-xxxi. An Italian translation printed around 1750 as Sinodo fiorentino contro Sisto IV in favore di Lorenzo de' Medici e della sua casa, in ocasione della congiura della famiglia de' Pazzi (without imprints, but Florence, circa 1750), B.L. copy 5015.a.19.

2. ff. 18-21. 'Morte del Signor Giuliano de' Medici seguita nel Duomo di Firenze l'anno 1478 il di 26 d'aprile presente il Cardinale Raffaello Galeotto Riario', anonymous chronicle of the death of Giuliano de' Medici; mid 16th cent. Italian. Inc. 'Nella chiesa di Santa Maria del Fiore di Firenze si scoperse un tratto', expl. (f. 20) 'e sino quelle del Capitolo di S. Croce'. Followed by bibliographic references in Latin and Italian, mentioning among others the 1536 Venetian edition of Contro gli astrologi by G. Pico della Mirandola, and the 1553 Basel edition of the Historia de Coniuratione Pactiana in Opera by A. Poliziano. Another copy in Add. 16493, ff. 16-18, with an additional sentence at the end mentioning Giulio son of Giuliano and his papacy as Clement VII (1523-1534).

3. ff. 22-112, 129v-170. 'Constitutiones Synodales Cleri Florentini MDVIII', episcopal constitutions published by Cosimo de' Pazzi; 1508. Latin. Inc. (f. 23) 'Cosmus de Pacciis Dei et Apostolice Sedis gratia Archiepiscopus Florentinus universis tam Clericis quam Laicis in Diocesi nostra constitutis salutem in Domino / Nihil tam constat in natura quam varietas rerum humanarum ... (f. 25) Liber primus / De Summa Trinitate et fide Catholica / Quoniam secundum Apostolum in edificio spirituali virtutum', expl. (f. 112) 'vel nostro vicario videbitur expedire' (divided into five books: ff. 25, 38v, 44v, 82v, 84); inc. (f. 129v) 'Ut autem per descriptione dierum feriatorum', expl. (f. 147) 'notariorum falsa instrumenta conficientur / Finis / Impressum Florentie de mandato prefati ... Domini Cosmi de Pacciis Archiepiscopi Florentini Anno ... 1508 et mense Januarii dicti Anni more florentino'. Followed (ff. 147v-168, ff. 168v-170) by two tables of contents, the first contemporary, the second by a later hand.

4. ff. 113-129v. 'Constitutiones provinciales edite usque de Anno 1327, 21 febr. a Joanne Cardinale Gaetano Orsino Legato Apostolico tunc temporis in Provinciis Tuscie residente pro Sanctissimo ... Papa Joanne XXI [sic] apud Avenione cum Sede Apostolica Deg.', constitutions issued by Giovanni Gaetano Orsini; 1327. Inc. (f. 114) 'In Christo Nomine Amen. Hoc est exemplum sine transumptum quacundarum constitutionum', expl. (f. 129) 'id etiam in procurationis officio volumus observari. / Publicate et pronunciate fuerunt constitutiones ... per Johannem ... S. Theodori Diaconi Cardinalem Apostolice sedis legatum et lecte per Brurilum de Mugello ... die Dominico 9 Kalende martii sub annis ... millesimo trecentesimo vigesimo septimo ... Praesentibus etiam ... dominis Petro Anagun Alamanno ... (f. 129v) ... Ego Andreas Nardi de Fuligno, publicus apostolica et imperiali authoritate notarius ... scripsi, et publicavi signumque meum apposui consuetum'.

Paper; ff. 170+ii, plus four unfoliated blanks after f. 17. Old pagination in ink '1-295' (ff. 23-170). 209 x 152mm. One Italian hand.