Cotton MS Nero B VII

Records and papers concerning England and Italy, 1371-1612. Including letters of Andrea Gritti, doge of Venice (1523-1538); Marino Grimani, doge of Venice (1595-1606); and King Charles V of Spain, Holy Roman Emperor (1519-1556, d. 1558).

f. 1r: Title-page.

f. 2r: Letter from King Henry VI of England to Francesco Foscari, doge of Venice. Recommending a good understanding between the republic and the knights of Rhodes. Westminster, July 21 1453. Latin.

f. 3r: Letter from King Henry VI of England to Francesco Foscari, doge of Venice. Recommending some English knights of Rhodes, going to fight Turkish forces, who had taken Constantinople. Westminster, March 13 1454. Under the Privy Seal, signed T. Kent. Latin.

f. 4r-4v: ‘Credence as signs, qui se sont offert a suir’. Temp. Edward III.

f. 5r-5v: Letter from John Galeaz, Visconti Duke of Milan, possibly to King Richard II. In answer to the King’s demand for redress of an English ship seized by merchants of Placentia. With a reference to the Privy Council, signed Percy. Pavia, May 3 1390. Latin.

f. 6r-6v: Letter from an unnamed Duke of Milan to an unnamed King of England. Requesting that a certain soothsayer, or a book on divination which he had heard existed in England, might be sent him, to free him from a disorder which he ascribed to witchcraft. Pavia, no date. Latin.

ff. 7r-9v: Three letters or notes from John Galeaz, Visconti Duke of Milan, to King Edward III. Recommending several individuals and offering to send a falcon. Pavia, January 18 and August 23 1371, and August 19, no year. Latin.

f. 10r-10v: Fragment of a letter from a chief magistrate in Florence to an unnamed King of England. On a commercial affair. No date. Latin.

f. 11r-11v: Letter from the magistrates of Florence to King Edward III. In favour of a mercantile company called ‘Societatis Bardorum’. Florence, January 30, no year. Latin.

f. 12r-12v: Letter from the Senate of Florence to the Privy Council. Concerning some mercantile affairs. Partly obliterated. Florence, 6 March 1418. Latin.

f. 13r-13v: Letter from King Henry VI to Francesco Foscari, doge of Venice. Strongly recommending the concerns of Francesco de Dormo Castripolle of Treviso, who had been injured in his patrimony by a mother-in-law. Westminster, December 20 1439. Latin.

f. 14r-14v: Letter to the King’s treasurer and council, possibly from King Henry IV. Ordering the prevention of any circulation of certain coins brought in by Venetian merchants. Clipeston, June 24 [1399]. French.

f. 15r-15v: Letter from Anthony Bembo to King Henry IV. Requesting restitution for a sum of 750 ducats lent to the Duke of Norfolk, on the Duke’s voyage to the Holy Land. Venice, May 1 1404. Latin.

f. 16r-16v: Letter to the Senate of Venice, possibly from King Henry IV. Requesting a supply of cordage. August 10 1403. Latin.

f. 17r-17v: Letter from Michael Steno, doge of Venice, to King Henry IV. Interceding concerning the payment of the Duke of Norfolk’s debt to Anthony Bembo. May 1 1403. Latin.

f. 18v-19r: A bull or breve of Pope Clement VII. Empowering Gaspar Spinelli to ratify a treaty between himself, the Kings of England and France, and the Duke of Milan. [8 June] 1526. Latin.

f. 20r-20v: Letter from Leonard Lauredanus, doge of Venice, to Thomas Wolsey. Recommending two Venetian ambassadors named Sebastian Justiniani and Peter Pasquali. February 2 1514. Latin.

ff. 21r-24r: Letter from Sebastian Justiniani to Thomas Wolsey. Sending compliments. 1515. Latin.

ff. 24r-31r: Oration by Sebastian Justiniani to King Henry VIII. With an answer by John Taylor. May 1515. Latin.

f. 32r-32v: An answer to a discourse by an unnamed Scottish ambassador. No date, Latin.

ff. 33r-34v: Letter from the merchants of Venice to Thomas Cromwell. Requesting he procure the renewal of their trade licence from the King. [1535].

f. 35r-35*v: Letter from an unnamed doge of Venice to the Venetian ambassador in England, possibly Sebastian Justiniani. Directing him to obtain a safe-conduct for ships from Thomas Wolsey. August 7 1516. Latin.

f. 36r-36v: Paper on commercial affairs, attested by notaries. October 21 1419. In an Italian dialect.

f. 37r-37v: Letter from an unnamed Venetian ambassador to Thomas Wolsey. Sending news about the conclave. January 12 1521. Latin.

f. 38r-38v: Letter from an unnamed Venetian ambassador to Thomas Wolsey. Concerning certain Venetian ships detained at Southampton. Chiston, November 23 1522. Latin.

ff. 39r-40v: Letter from Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, to the republic of Venice. Drawing them away from the French alliance. [April] 1522. Latin.

ff. 41r-46r: Instructions given by King Henry VIII to Richard Pace. On his dispatch to Venice. August 1522.

ff. 47r-50v: Letter from Thomas Wolsey to Richard Pace. Concerning his negotiations at Venice. March 1523.

ff. 51r-52v: Letter from Hieronymus Adurnus, Imperial ambassador at Venice, to the Bishop of Pace (Badajoz), Imperial ambassador in England. Concerning a treaty between the Emperor and the Venetians, against France. Venice, January 3 1523. Latin.

ff. 53r-54v: Draft commission from King Henry VIII to Richard Pace. To settle all differences between him, the Emperor, and the republic of Venice. March 12 1522. Latin.

f. 55r-55v: Letter from Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, to his aunt, Queen Catherine of Aragon. Sending a credential on behalf of Charles Wingfield. Signed ‘Yo el Rey’. Ghent, January 8 1522. Spanish.

ff. 56r-66v: Edicts made at Venice for the regulation of commerce, chiefly of currants. Also restraining the traffic of strangers. [19 April] 1524, 1536, 1602.

ff. 67r-88v: Contract containing several regulations concerning the equipment of four gallies to be sent from Venice to England. January 14 [and February 5] 1529. Italian.

ff. 89r-90v: Letter from Richard Pace to Thomas Wolsey. Reporting on a difference between the Venetians and the Viceroy of Naples. Venice, May 13 [1525].

f. 91r: Extract of a letter from an unnamed correspondent to one Mr Tuke. Reporting that the Duke of Bourbon was within ten miles of the King of France. [26 January] 1525.

f. 92r: Minutes of transactions in Italy. September-November 1526.

ff. 93r-102v: Five letters from John Casalis, prothonotary, to Thomas Wolsey. Reporting intelligence. Venice, December 28 and November 17 1527, April 27 1528, June 3 and June 23 1529. See also MS Arundel 151. Latin.

ff. 103r-104v: Letter from Francesco Georgius, a patrician of Venice and Minorite, to King Henry VIII. Professing devotion, and recommending himself to the King’s favour. Venice, December 4 1531. See also MS Arundel 151. Latin.

f. 105r-105v: Letter from Matthew King to Thomas Cromwell. Reporting on the raising of the siege of Coron by Andrew Doria. Venice, October 1 1533.

ff. 106r-108v: Two letters from Edmund Harvel to Thomas Starkey. On private concerns and financial matters, some public transactions in Italy, and clamour’s against the King’s proceedings in religious matters. Venice, February 1534 and June 15 1535.

f. 109r-109v: Letter from Bernardin Sandro to Thomas Starkey. Sending various intelligence, chiefly domestic, concerning the creation of cardinals. Padua, June 15 1535.

f. 110r-110v: Letter from Antonio Duodo to Thomas Cromwell. Sending thanks for his appointment as consul at Venice. Venice, September 10 1535. Italian.

f. 111r-111v: Letter from Bernardin Sandro to Thomas Starkey. Sending intelligence on Cardinal Pole’s manner of living, and news from Venice. Venice, October 1 1535. Italian.

f. 112r-112v: Letter from one Michael Thr[…] to Thomas Starkey. On domestic concerns. Venice, April 12 1535.

f. 113r-113v: Letter from Bernardin Sandro to Thomas Starkey. Sending public and domestic intelligence. Venice, November 14 1535. Italian.

f. 114r-114v: Letter from Edmund Harvel to Thomas Starkey. Venice, January 18 1525.

f. 115r-115v: Letter from Bernardin Sandro to Thomas Starkey. Venice, August 19 1535. Italian.

f. 116r-116v: Letter from Edmund Harvel to Thomas Starkey. Venice, April 7 1535.

ff. 117r-118v: Two letters from Bernardin Sandro to Thomas Starkey. Venice, October 21 and December 28 1535. Italian.

ff. 119r-124v: Six letters from Edmund Harvel to Thomas Starkey. Venice, February 5, December 6, April 21 and 12, May 5 and 26, 1535.

ff. 125r-126v: Letter from Bernardin Sandro to Thomas Starkey. Venice, March 15 1536. Italian.

ff. 127r-128v: Letter from Francesco Torello de Fano, agent of John Casalis, possibly to Thomas Cromwell. Sending various intelligence concerning the Imperial and French forces in Italy, and the Turkish forces. Venice, March 23 1536. Italian.

ff. 129r-130v: Two letters from Edmund Harvel to Thomas Starkey. Concerning Cardinal Pole, and other intelligence. Venice, April 12 and March 1 1536.

ff. 131r-136v: Three letters from Edmund Harvel to Thomas Cromwell. Sending various intelligence, chiefly public. Venice, May 2 1538, November 2 1537, and December 13 1538.

ff. 137r-138v: Letter from Pietro Aretino to Thomas Cromwell. Recommending a young man. Venice, December 20 1539. Italian.

ff. 139r-142v: Letter from Peter Vannes to the Privy Council. Sending intelligence concerning the siege of Parma, and the Duke of Ferrara. With a paper of advertisements in Italian enclosed. Venice, September 23 1551.

ff. 143r-144v: Letter from Peter Vannes to the Privy Council. Sending news concerning the Turkish forces, and the siege of Mirandola. Venice, December 20 1551.

ff. 145r-149v: Letter from Peter Vannes to the Privy Council. Sending news, and enclosing an Italian paper of intelligence concerning the state of Parma. Venice, March 21 1551.

ff. 150r-152v: Copy of a letter from Africa, possibly enclosed in a letter from Peter Vannes. Concerning the Turkish forces. August 1551. Italian.

ff. 153r-162v: Four letters from Peter Vannes to the Privy Council. Sending intelligence. Ferrara, February 17 1551, Venice, February 11, September 8 and December 7 1552.

f. 163r-163v: Unattributed letter, possibly from Peter Vannes to the Privy Council. Concerning some English cloths unduly seized and cut by order of the proveditori of Venice. No date.

ff. 164r-173v: Account of the state of England, by Giovanni Michiel, a Venetian ambassador who returned from England in 1557. See other accounts by Michiel in Lansdowne MS 840, art. 5; Harley MS 3553, art. 3; and Additional MS 10170.

ff. 174r-175v: Letter from Ludovico Ghinigi to Peter Vannes. Sending intelligence from Rome concerning the Turkish forces. Venice, September 15 1559. Italian.

ff. 176r-178v: Unattributed paper of intelligence. Concerning Poland, and the Turkish forces. Venice, June 13 1573. Italian.

ff. 179r-180v: Letter from Don J. Guzman de Silva to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Encouraging him to seek recreation in the sports of the field, and recommending himself to his favour. Venice, June 26 1574. Italian.

ff. 181r-182v: Letter from Thomas Parkins to Sir Robert Cecil. Regarding a concern relating to Venice, undertaken by Ottavio Negro. London, March 1 1595/6.

f. 183r-184v: Letter from Marinus Grimano, doge of Venice, to Queen Elizabeth I. Requesting she grant a protection to several ships bringing corn from Holland. Venice, August 21 1596. Italian.

ff. 185r-186v: Letter from Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst and president of the Privy Council, to the officers of the customs at Bristol. Ordering them to clear no ships for the Levant except those belonging to the privileged company. London, August 8 1600.

ff. 187r-190v: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Marino Grimano, doge of Venice. Concerning some English ships detained by the Venetians. Richmond, February 28 1600/1. Two copies, Latin.

ff. 191r-192v: Letter from Marino Grimano, doge of Venice, to Queen Elizabeth I. Complaining of attacks committed by English subjects on Venetian vessels. Venice, July 8 1600.

ff. 193r-194v: Letter from Giovanni Franco de Soria to Thomas Wilson. Sending intelligence concerning public affairs in Italy. September 8 1603. Italian.

ff. 195r-195*v: Points proposed by Sir Henry Wotton, concerning trade. Venice, 1604.

f. 196r: Paper containing an abstract of the letter above (ff. 193r-194v).

f. 197r: Proclamation of Venice. For the protection of Paolo Sarpi, a Servite monk whose life had been attempted. October 27 1607. Italian.

ff. 198r-199v: Letter from Thomas Wynter to Thomas Cromwell. Concerning domestic matters, his expenses, and intelligence. Padua, October 4, no year. Latin.

f. 200r-200v: Letter from Robert Hilarius to an unnamed ecclesiastical person, despite the letter’s direction to one Claudio, merchant at Venice. Enclosing a catalogue, and some obscure intelligence. London, December 4 1612. Italian.

ff. 201r-209v: Four letters from Dudley Carleton to King James I. Chiefly concerning a plot by certain Jesuits against the King’s person. Venice, January 5 and 15, February 19 and January 8 1512/13 [1612/13].

f. 210r-210v: Breviate of certain articles of profit accruing from trade into the Mediterranean. No date.

ff. 211r-212v: Summary of some general topics, to be brought to attention by ambassadors. No date. Italian.

ff. 213r-215v: Two catalogues of books, relating to a controversy between Pope Paul V and the republic of Venice. No dates. One printed; the other manuscript.

ff. 216r-217v: Paper giving reasons to induce the republic of Venice to pardon one Ward and his company. No date.

ff. 218r-219v: Paper concerning the plot against the King mentioned by Dudley Carleton above (ff. 201r-209v). Signed Gio. Vicenzo Gaetano. No date. Italian.

ff. 220r-221v: Letter from the Secretary of Florence to one Montecuculi. Concerning an omission in a ceremonial. 1604. Italian.

ff. 222r-225v: An abstract of certain demands made by Sir Stephen Lesieur to Ferdinand, Grand Duke of Tuscany, with his answers. Concerning the ship Mayflower. With propositions or requests made by the merchants intending to trade in Turkey. 1608.

ff. 226r-227v: Complaints by the owners of the ship Mathewes-farm, after its attack by a Tuscan ship. 1608.

ff. 228r-229v: Report concerning the loss of the ship Mayflower (see above ff. 222r-225v). 1608.

ff. 230r-231v: Papers concerning the ship Mayflower. No dates.

f. 232r-232v: Paper on the state of the cause concerning the ship Matthews-farm. No date.

ff. 233r-235r: Paper on the state of the cause concerning the ship Thomas and William Bonadventure, and the ship Triumph. No date.

f. 236r: Questions concerning the legality of laying an embargo on foreign ships. No date.

ff. 237r-238r: Complaint of Richard Cockayne, owner of the ship Royal Merchant. No date.

f. 239r-240v: Draft paper concerning the freedom of trade and navigation. No date. Latin.

ff. 241r-242v: Remonstrance from Sir Stephen Lesieur to Ferdinand, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Concerning four ships: the Merchant Royal, the Mayflower, the Matthew and John, and the Thomas and William Bonadventure. 1608.

ff. 243r-244v: Notes concerning the four ships listed above.

ff. 245r-246r: A fair copy of the paper above (ff. 222r-225v).

ff. 247r-251r: Four articles of complaints made by the owners of the ship Thomas and William Bonadventure.

ff. 252r-295v: Memorials of letters sent by Sir Stephen Lesieur to the Duke of Florence, with answers given by the Duke and other papers relating to the four ships listed above.