Add MS 8566

BERNARDO REBUFFO GIUSTINIANI: Dialogue between Philip II and the Duke of Alba concerning Genoa, with other papers relating to Genoa; circa 1575. Italian. Copy, 17th cent. Sacked by Spanish troops in 1522 and captured by the French in 1527, Genoa was retaken in 1528, with Spanish support, by the Genoese Admiral Andrea Doria. A new constitution was established which stated that only old noble families (patrizie) serving before 1506 should hold senior offices. These noble houses subsequently regrouped themselves into 28 alberghi. Ensuing tensions between the alberghi and Genoa's ambitious new nobility erupted into a brief civil war (1575-76) until Philip II of Spain arbitrated an agreement which stated that 300 new noble families would join the ruling oligarchy. The MS. is listed in P. O. Kristeller, Iter Italicum, IV (1989), p. 85. Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford, with shelfmark 'L/18/B' (front pastedown). '253' in pencil in upper left corner of pastedown. Purchased, together with Add. 8682, 8683 8684, and 8692, from R. H. Evans, 9 Dec. 1830, lot 253 (part).

1. ff. 1-46. 'Dialogo tra Fillipo Rè di Spagna et il Duca d'Alba […] trattasi se sia bene et riuscibile a detto Re l'impatronirsi di Genova', historical treatise on Genoa in the form of a dialogue between Philip II and Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, by Bernardo Rebuffo Giustiniani; 1575. Inc. 'Il travaglio ch'io hebbi alla mente per causa della sollevatione dei Populi di Granata fu grande'. Other copies of the same work are Genoa, Archivo Storico del Comune Genova, BS, 107.B.1 and 109.C.6, Biblioteca Civica Berio, mr. III.5.135 and Rome, Archivio Segreto Vaticano, Misc. Arm. II 26, cc. 242-299.

2. ff. 47-86v. 'Discorso intorno la Republica di Genova per instruccione al Re christianissimo', anonymous discourse on the Republic of Genoa, addressed to Henry III of France and with a particular focus upon the events of 1528 and Andrea Doria's government reforms; 1575. Inc. 'La Civilità di Genova resta amichevolmente divisa in due fattioni una che si domanda nobile, et altra populare'. Another copy of the same text in Add. 48148, ff. 27-40.

3. ff. 65-86v. 'Discorso overo ricordo per riformare il governo di Genova di uno Cittadino della Republica dato al Cardinale Morono', an anonymous discourse containing a number of proposals for government reforms, addressed to Cardinal Giovanni Morone who was sent to Genoa in 1575 by Gregory XIII to participate in the peace negotiations; 1575. Inc. 'E pia cciuto alla Maestà di Dio, che Vostra Signoria Illustrissima riveda le nostre leggi'.

4. ff. 87-112v. 'Orazione di Alessandro Mola Proposto di Casale, Academico Illustrato detto il Vigilante sopra la concordia Genovese', oration delivered by Alessandro Mola, Governor of Casale Monferrato and scholar, to Cardinal Giovanni Morone, papal envoy, Carlo Borgia, Duke of Gandia, and Juan de Idiaquez, Spanish Ambassador at Genoa, concerning the new Genoese constitution; circa 1575-1576. Inc. 'Non e cosa alcuna per nobile et grata chi ella sia Illustrissimi Reverendissimi et Eccelentissimi signori et prestantissimi ascoltanti'.

Paper; ff. 112. 269 x 208mm. Horizontal catchwords on each page. Two 17th-cent. hands (a) ff. 1-46, (b) ff. 46-112. ff. 46-112 have been cropped. Quarter vellum with brown paper covers (torn), flat spine and no endbands.