Add MS 8710

GEROLAMO CONESTAGIO DE FRANCHI: Dell'unione del regno di Portogallo alla corona di Castiglia; circa 1585. Italian. Copy. An historical account of the unification of the kingdoms of Portugal and Spain under Philip II of Spain in 1580, following the death without descent of the Portuguese kings Sebastian of Aviz (d. 1578) and Henry of Aviz (d. 1580). The account was written by Gerolamo Conestagio de Franchi (circa 1530-1618), a Genoese merchant, politician, historian and poet, who lived and worked in Lisbon around 1580. The work was first published in Genoa in 1585 (B.L. copies 1060.c.2 and M.L.df.89). Its immediate success among Conestagio's contemporaries prompted the publication of many other editions in the following years, with the addition of a preface in self-defence against detractors (second edition, Genoa, 1589; ff. 2-6 here), and of a summary at beginning of each book (third edition, Venice, 1592; in the present MS. the summaries are group together on ff. 9-11v). The work was also translated and published in many other languages, including Latin, French, and German. In England it was translated and published in 1600 by Edward Blount (B.L. copy 593.e.7), one of the first Italian historical treatises to appear on the English market. For Conestagio and its work see DBI, 27 (1982), pp. 770-772. The MS. is entitled (f. 1) 'Dell'unione del regno di Portogallo alla corona di Castiglia / Istoria / di Ieronimo de Franchi [deleted] Conestaggio'. Inc. (f. 12) 'Della unione del Regno di Portogallo alla corona di Castiglia / Istoria / Di Ieronimo de Franchi Conestaggio / Libro Primo / Io prendo à scrivere le cose del Regno di Portogallo', expl. (f. 276v) 'di modo che si venissero ad adempire i desideri loro / Il fine'. The text is divided into ten books. It is preceded by: (a) ff. 2-6, additional preface to the reader, inc. 'Al lettore / Ieronimo Conestaggio / Se l'esser accusato inferisse colpa'; - (b) ff. 7-8, the dedication, inc. 'Al Serenissimo et Illustrissimi Signori Duce e Governatori della Repubblica di Genova / Ieronimo de Franchi Conestaggio / La maggior cura, che travagli le menti dei principi'; - (c) ff. 9-11v, summaries of individual books, inc. 'Sommario del Prim Libro / In questo libro si contiene l'origine'. (a) and (c) seem to be written and added later by two different hands. Minor variants from printed editions occasionally corrected by a later hand. Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford with shelfmark 'L/20/B' (front pastedown). '512' in pencil in top left corner of f. i verso. Purchased, together with Add. 8711, 8712, 8713, and 8714, from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 512 (part).

Paper; ff. 276+iv, plus one unfoliated blank after ff. 11, 92, two unfoliated blanks after ff. 33, 59, 122, 236, and three unfoliated blanks after ff. 159, 210. Old pagination in ink 1-560 (ff. 12-276v), including blanks. 302 x 202mm. Alphabetical quire signatures 'A-NN', and horizontal catchwords. One Italian hand. Late 16th-early 17th cent. binding of vellum with decorated pastedowns and contiguous flyleaves.