Add MS 8572

HISTORY OF GENEVA AND ITS CHURCH; 1744. Italian. Copy. A summary history of Geneva composed by an anonymous, possibly a Venetian citizen, identified by the initials 'D. G. M. V. Ven.^o' (f. 1). The history is composed of excerpts from the work of the Italian Calvinist historian Gregorio Leti (1630-1701), Historia Genevrina osia Historia della citta e republica di Geneva, pts. i-iii (Amsterdam: Pietro & Abramo van Someren, 1686; B.L. copy 157.b.18). The summary focuses on the religious history of the town and the development of Calvinism. The text begins (ff. 3-7v) with the foundation of Geneva and its name, the arrival of the Romans, the beginnings of religion, and the arrival of Christianity. A list of 87 Catholic bishops of Geneva and their history follows (ff. 7v-62), from Paradosso or Paracodo at the time of the Roman Emperor Nerva to Pierre de la Baume (1523-1544). After four chapters respectively dedicated to Lutero and the Protestant faith (ff. 61-75v), the Italian refugees in Geneva (ff. 76-84v, with list of names on ff. 81-81v), the death of Martin Luther (f. 84v), and the life of John Calvin (ff. 85-97v), the summary ends (ff. 97v-99) with the life of Theodore Beza. The chapter on Calvin's life includes (ff. 87v-89v) an excerpt copied by Leti from the life of Calvin in the unpublished Relatione di Ginevra by the Neapolitan writer Andrea Cardovino o Carduino: cf. Historia Genevrina, pt. iii, book ii, pp. 153-156. Copies of Carduino's relazione also in Add. MSS. 16485, ff. 76-135 (entitled 'Relatione di Ginevra d'Andrea Carduino Gentilhuomo Napolitano'), and 48123 (Yelverton MS. 138), art. 10, ff. 417-448v (abridged), Egerton MS. 1095, ff. 184-231v, Paris, Bibl. Nationale, MS. Ital. 429, and Venice, Bibl. Marciana, It. MS. VII, 920 (=7906), ff. 221-237, dated 1623 and dedicated to king Philip III of Spain. The title of the present MS. is (f. 1) 'Istoria di Geneva cioe sua denominazione, erezione, e Religione. Serie dei Vescovi Cattolici, Governo e caduta nell'Eresia nuovamente rescritta dal Signor D. G. M. V. Ven.^o / MDCCXLIV', and it is preceded by a short note 'Istoria di Geneva' written later on ff. i-i verso. Letter to the reader (ff. 2-2v) 'Lettore Amico / Non so da qual spirito indotto', inc. (f. 3) 'Istoria di Geneva / Tra li confederati de Svizeri numerasi la Republica di Geneva', expl. (f. 99) 'con molta inclinazione alla Poesia / Fine'. The titles of the six sections are as follows: - (a) f. 4, 'Della Religione di Geneva e Prima Religione'; - (b) f. 6, 'Della Religione Seconda Cristiana'; - (c) f. 61, 'Lutero'; - (d) f. 76, 'Riffugiati in Geneva'; - (e) f. 84v, 'Morte di Martino Lutero'; - (f) f. 85, 'Vita di Calvino'; - (g) f. 97v, 'Vita e Morte di Teodoro di Beza'. Contemporary table of contents (ff. 100-100v). Possible old shelfmark 'A.I.' in pencil at top of f. ii verso. '£ 8 A' in ink in top right-hand corner of lower pastedown. Armorial bookplate of the Hon. Frederick North, later 5th Earl of Guilford (front pastedown and, reversed, on lower pastedown). '62' in pencil in top left corner of front pastedown. Purchased, together with Add. 8552, 8563, 8568, 8625, 8672, and 8807, from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 62 (part).

Paper; ff. 100+iii, plus one unfoliated blank after ff. 1, 2, 100. Contemporary foliation in ink '1-99', completed by a modern hand in pencil on f. 100. 255 x 189mm. Horizontal catchwords. One Italian hand. 18th-cent. Italian binding of mottled brown leather over pasteboards with gilt-tooled spine in compartments; edges mottled in red and black.