Add MS 48123

VENETIAN RELAZIONI, etc., including three accounts of England; c. 1588-1625. Italian.

1. ff. 1-72. 'Relatione delle Cose de Spagna fatta dal Clarissimo Signor Tommaso Contarini ritornato Ambasciatore in Spagna'; 1593. Another copy is Add. 48107, where the item is fully described. Beg. 'Nel rapresentare all Serenita Vostra, et alle Signorie Vostre Eccellentissime la grandezza'. Ends 'e per compire il debito mio'.

2. ff. 73-80b. 'Oratione del Duca di Lerma nel consiglio di Spagna tradotta da Spagnuolo In Italiano'. Apparently a translation of a speech c. 1610-1615 by the Spanish prime minister, Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, Duque de Lerma, in favour of war against Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy. A printed version of the translation is in Add. 48154, ff. 346-346(b) verso. Beg. 'Io vorrei nei presenti motivi di Savoia'. Ends 'à quelli Persi, Macedoni, et Romani'.

3. ff. 81-119. 'Relatione della vita del Ré di Spagna, et delli Privati'. Refers on f. 108b to the transfer of the Spanish Court from Valladolid to Madrid 'Di questo anno 1606'. The transfer took place in March 1606, see

P. Aguado Blege, Manual de Historia de España, ii, Madrid, 1954, p. 705. Beg. 'Filippo 3o Rè di Spagna nacque in Madrid'. Ends (f. 118b) 'perche dicono quod regnat nomine alieno'. On f. 119 is a sonnet 'Sopra questa gran mutation dei governo', probably referring to the governorship of Milan and mentioning, amongst others, Pedro Enríquez de Acevedo, Conde de Fuentes de Valdepero, Governor of Milan 1603-1610, and Pedro Alverez de Toledo y Osorio, Marqués de Villafranca, confidant of Philip III and Governor of Milan 1615-1618.

4. ff. 121-136. 'Capitoli dell' unione delli stati di Fiandra obedienti à Sua Maestà con tutti gli altri suoi Regni et stati per opporsi all' invasione de nemici nell' occorenze'. Reasons and proposals for a closer union of the dominions of the King of Spain with each other. Refers on ff. 124b, 125 to the capture of Bahia by the Dutch in May 1624 and its recapture by the Spaniards in the following April. Beg. 'Havendo l'esperienza fatto conoscere li molti inconvenienti'. Ends 'e conservatione de Suoi Regni e stati'.

5. ff. 137-157b. 'Ragioni che si apportano per la guerra di Piamonte e d'Istria in defesa de Spagnioli et degli Arciducali'. Addressed to one 'signore Filippo', the treatise relates to the war between Spain and Savoy in 1613-1617. Beg. 'Voi mi scrivete una querula e longa lettera'. Ends 'che a me non mancarà modo di replicare. State sano'.

6. ff. 159-208. 'Relatione di Germania dove si vede quale siano li Catholici et quali li luterani, et altre sette: et ancora quelli che sono dubij': possibly a Venetian Relazione (see opening words); [1588-1589?]. Refers on f. 202 to Christian of Denmark (Christian IV, succeeded 4 April 1588), and on ff. 201, 201b to Henry III of France, assassinated 2 Aug. 1589. If a Venetian Relazione, the report should probably be attributed to Matteo Zane, the last letter from whom as ambassador to Germany is dated 23 June 1587 (SP Ven. 1581-1591, no. 536); the first letter of his successor, Vincenzo Gradenigo, is dated 12 April 1588 (ibid., no. 649). Zane was appointed Patriarch of Venice 27 Aug. 1601 and died 24 July 1605. Text beg. (f. 167) 'E ottimo instituto il far le relationi in scritto dell' Ambasciarie'. Ends (f. 205b) 'senza pero dispiacere al Rè di Spagna'. On ff. 205b-208 is a list of the Archbishops, Bishops, Academies and Universities of Germany.

7. ff. 209-240b. 'Relatione dell origine della casa d'Austria et delli acquisti fatti da loro, et le cause dove sono nate le presenti revolutioni di Germania': possibly a Venetian Relazione (see opening words); c. 1620-1621. Composed in the reign of the Emperor Ferdinand II (elected 28 Aug. 1619); refers on f. 216b to the Archduke Albert, sovereign of the Netherlands, died 13 July 1621, as still alive, and on f. 238 to the Elector Palatine, Frederick V, born 16 Aug. 1596, as 25 years old. Beg. 'Io raccoglierò brevemente Illustrissimo Signore l'origine della Casa d'Austria'. Ends 'fatti degni della Corona Imperiale'.

8. ff. 241-382. 'Relatione Delle cose piu degne di esser conosciute dal Regno d'Inghilterra . . . scritta da Patritio Vbaldini. Cittadino Fiorentino. A di 15 di maggio 1600'. For Petruccio Ubaldini, the Italian illuminator, calligrapher and scholar born in Tuscany c. 1524, died in England, where he had settled, c. 1600, see DNB, lviii, pp. 1-3. Ubaldini's 'Relatione' of England dated 1551 is Add. 10169 and is published in Giuliano Pellegrini, Petruccio Ubaldini. Un fiorentino alla corte d'Inghilterra nel Cinquecento, Università di Pisa, Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia. Studi di Filologia Moderna, n.s., vii, Turin, 1967. Another version, dated 1576, is Add. 61726 (probably autograph). The version in the present MS. is close to that of Add. 61726, though there are many verbal differences. For another work by Ubaldini see Add. 48082, art. 2. Text beg. (f. 244) 'Coloro, i quali sono desiderosi di giovare'. Ends 'la verita delle Cose vedute et provate'.

9. ff. 383-414b. 'Relatione d'Inghilterra dell' Illustrissimo Signore Nicolò Molino Cavaliere dell' anno 1607'. Molino and Pietro Duodo were appointed on 21 May 1603 ambassadors extraordinary to England on the accession of James I. After Duodo left in Jan. 1604, Molino remained in England as an ordinary ambassador until 21 Jan. 1606. His Relazione was published from Cod. 805 in the collection of Emanuele Cicogna in Venice by Barozzi and Berchet, ser. 4, 1863, pp. 24-82. For other copies see Add. 48148, art. 10, Harley MS. 3572, ff. 84-149b: an autograph letter from Molino to Sir Julius Caesar is Add. 12506, f. 10. Beg. 'Dovendo io per obligo della mia legatione'. Ends 'la facoltà, et la vita istessa'. See also Sneyd, p. xiii.

10. ff. 417-448b. 'Relatione Della Citta di Genevra'. Other copies are: Add. 16485, ff. 76-135, where it is attributed to 'Andrea Carduino, Gentilhuomo Napolitano'; Paris B.N. MS. Ital.429, 'Relatione di Geneva . . . fino a quest' anno 1621' (see Marsand, i, p. 392, the MS. being then numbered 10091). Beg. 'Ha la Citta di Geneva doppo l'Apostasia'. Ends 'il fomento della parola dell' huomo iniquo'.

11. ff. 451-460b. 'Relatione di Francesco Contarini Cavaliere tornato dall' Ambasceria straordinaria de Inghilterra fatto in Senato a di 6 di Settembre 1610'. Contarini was appointed ambassador extraordinary to England 11 Sept. 1609; he arrived 4 Feb. 1610 and took his leave 4 March. He was elected Doge of Venice 8 Sept. 1623 and died 6 Dec. 1624. His Relazione was published from a MS. in the possession of Rawdon Lubbock Brown by Barozzi and Berchet, ser. 4, 1863, pp. 155-162. Beg. 'Premettendo poche parole d'essordio'. Ends 'una Cesta longa grande piena d'argenti dorati'.

Paper; ff. 460. 17th-cent. foliation. Folio. XVII cent. Various Italian hands. Vellum binding. Numbered '138' on spine.

includes:

• ff. 1-72 Tommaso Contarini, Venetian diplomatist; Archbishop of Candia 1597: Relazione of Spain: 1593: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 1-72 Venice: Relazione of T. Contarini as Venetian ambassador to Spain: 1593: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 1-72 Philip II of Spain: Relazione of Spain by T. Contarini: 1593: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 2-73 Tommaso Contarini, Venetian diplomatist; Archbishop of Candia 1597: Relazione of Spain: 1593.: Ital.: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 73-80b Political Tracts: Speech by the Duque de Lerma, advocating war with Savoy: c. 1610-1615: Ital. transl: Copy and printed.
• ff. 73-80b Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, Duque de Lerma; Cardinal: Speech advocating war with Savoy: c. 1610-1615: Ital. transl: Copy and printed.
• ff. 73-80b Philip III of Spain: Speech by the Duque de Lerma advocating war with Savoy: c. 1610-1615: Ital. transl: Copy and printed.
• ff. 81-119 Philip III of Spain: `Relatione della vita del Ré di Spagna, et delli Privati': 1606: Ital.
• f. 119 Pedro Alvarez de Toledo y Osorio, Marqués de Villafranca; Governor of Milan 1615-1618: Verses rel. to: circa 1610(?): Ital.
• f. 119 Pedro Enríquez de Acevedo, Conde de Fuentes de Valdepero; Governor of Milan 1603-1610: Verses rel. to: circa 1610: Ital.
• f. 119 Milan: Verses rel. probably to governorship of: c. 1610: Ital.
• ff. 121-136 Political Tracts: Reasons and proposals for union between the Spanish Netherlands and other Spanish dominions: aft. 1625: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 121-136 Netherlands, Southern Provinces. Governors of. Isabella Clara Eugenia, Archduchess of Austria: Reasons and proposals for union between the Spanish Netherlands and other Spanish dominions: aft. 1625: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 121-136 Philip IV of Spain: Reasons and proposals for union between the Spanish Netherlands and other Spanish dominions: aft. 1625: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 137-157b Philip III of Spain: Treatise rel. to war between Spain and Savoy: 1613-1617: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 137-157b Charles Emmanuel I; Duke of Savoy: Treatise rel. to war between Spain and Savoy: 1613-1617: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 159-208 Venice: Relazione of the Venetian ambassador to Germany: 1588-1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 159-208 Rudolf II; Emperor of Germany: Relatione of Germany: 1588-1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 159-208 Matteo Zane, Patriarch of Venice 1601: Relazione of Germany by(?): 1588-1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 209-240b Venice: Relazione of(?) the Venetian ambassadoir to Germany: 1621: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 209-240b Ferdinand II; Emperor of Germany: Relatione of Germany: 1621: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 241-382 Petruccio Ubaldini, Italian illuminator, calligrapher and scholar: Relazione of England: 1600: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 241-382 Elizabeth I of England: Relatione of England, by P. Ubaldini: 1600: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 383-414b Nicolò Molino, Venetian ambassador to England: Venice: Marco Antonio Correr, Venetian ambassador to England: Relazione of England by Nicolò Molino, falsely attributed to Marco Antonio Correr: 1607: Ital: Copies.
• ff. 383-414b, 451-460b James I of England: Relazioni of the Venetian ambassador to: 1607, 1610: Ital: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 417-448b Andrea Carduino, of Naples: `Relatione della Citta di Genevra': 1621: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 417-448b City of Geneva: `Relatione della Citta di Genevra', by A. Carduino: 1621: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 451-460b Francesco Contarini, Venetian diplomatist; Doge of Venice 1623: Relazione of England: 1610: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 451-460b Venice: Relazione of the Venetian ambassador to England: 1610: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.