Add MS 8733

PORT OF MARDICK: two tracts on the handover of the port by the French government to the English in Oct. 1657; circa 1658. Italian translation. Copies. The first tract (art. 1, ff. 2-41) is the Italian translation of a French pamphlet published anonymously in Paris in 1657 and again in 1658 by Jean François Gondi, Cardinal de Retz, with the title Très-humble et très-importante remontrance au Roi sur la remise des places maritimes de Flandres entre les mains des Anglais. In his pamphlet Gondi denounced the 'Machiavellianism' of Cardinal Mazarin and his alliance with Oliver Cromwell. Soon afterwards the pamphlet was printed in translation into English (London, 1659: B.L. copies E.986 (21), and 8012.aaa.17), German (s.l., 1658: B.L. copy 8050.d.45), and Dutch (Paris, 1658: B.L. copies 1103.f.23 (3), and 1103.f.24). Table of contents (f. 1) by a later hand. Owned by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, but lacking his armorial bookplate. '390' in pencil in top centre of front pastedown. Purchased, together with Add. 8699 and 8731, from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 390 (part).

Paper; ff. 247+ii. Composite volume. Modern foliation in pencil 1-247, interrupted between ff. 92-160. Old foliation in ink 1-248 (ff. 2-247), omitting nos. 90, 161. 257 x 191mm. Horizontal catchwords on each leaf. Two Italian hands. 17th-cent. binding of vellum.

Contents as follows:

1. ff. 2-41. 'Humilissima et Importantissima Rimostranza al Re Christianissimo Sopra le Consegne delle Piazze della Fiandra in mano dell Inglesi', with later addition at the end 'fatta dal Cardinal d'Arez ò vero gondi'; circa 1658. Inc. (f. 3) 'Sire / Noi portiamo alla Maestà Vostra li sentimenti di tutta la Francia', expl. 'che sarrà l'opera della vostra pietà, e sapienza, e Dio ci esaudisca'.

2. ff. 42-247v. 'La Francia difesa Dalle false Imposture di un seditioso francese Datele In una Humile Remostranza presentata alla Maesta' del Ré Christianissimo Per la Rimessa delle due Piazze Maritime di Fiandra Mardiche, e Bourbourgh All'Inglese', with later addition at top of the leaf 'ad istanzia del Cardinal antonio fattala Moncri [sic] bonino geno[...]; circa 1658. Inc. (f. 43) 'Se fusse cosi facile d'ingannare con le parole', expl. 'procurano come pretende costui di spossessarli dall'affetto, e riverenza de Popoli / Fine'.