Add MS 48133

POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS TRACTS, relating to the Papacy, Italy and France, etc.; c. 1524-1623. Italian. Included is one (art. 7) concerning the proposed marriage between Henry, Prince of Wales, son of James I, and a sister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

1. ff. 1-13b. 'Discorso di Monsignor Lomellino sopra le cose di Francia et del modo che deve tenere Monsignor Illustrissimo Legato nel suo negotiare in quel Regno'. Apparently the instructions, dated 5 Oct. 1589, written by Goffredo Lomellini, clerk of the Apostolic Camera (d.1601), for Cardinal Enrico Caetani, appointed Legate to France 25 Sept. 1589; see DBI, xvi, pp. 148-155 and Pastor, xxi, pp. 327-332. The treatise was published in G. Canestrini and A. Desjardins, Négociations diplomatiques de la France avec la Toscane, v, Paris, 1875, pp. 641-649. Beg. 'Il Regno di Francia sotto la Monarchia del suo Rè'. Ends 'della Santa Sede Apostolica in tante parti del Mondo'.

2. ff. 15-114b. 'Discorso fatto dal già Cardinale d'Ossat sopra gli effetti della lega di Francia'. On Arnaud d'Ossat, French diplomat and writer, Cardinal 1598 (d.1604), see A. Degert, Le Cardinal d'Ossat, Paris, 1894. Degert discusses Ossat's 'Discorso' on pp. 63-68 and assigns it to the period Jan.-15 August 1591. A French translation of it was printed in M. G. C. Thiroux d'Arconville, Vie du Cardinal D'Ossat, i, Paris, 1771, pp. 1-148, where the date of composition is given as 1590. Beg. 'Qualsivoglia intentione s'habbino quei della Casa di Guisa'. Ends 'et trauestita del nome della bontà, et della pietà'.

3. ff. 115-121. 'Discorso delle qualità di Ludovisio, di Borghese, et d'alcuni altri Cardinali', with a marginal note 'dal [fratre Lodovico?]'. Possibly written in connection with the conclave which elected Pope Urban VIII on 6 Aug. 1623 and certainly before the death on 23 Aug. 1623 of Cardinal Antonio Sauli, who is discussed on ff. 118b, 119, and after the election of Pope Gregory XV on 9 Feb. 1621. Beg. 'Il Cardinal Ludovisio trattò nella sua minor fortuna'. Ends 'far acquista di stima, e d'auttorità'.

4. ff. 123-163. 'Discorso De gli artificij de Signori della Lega di Congiura contro Arrigo. III. Rè di Francia etc.', addressed to Henry III. Apparently written in 1588, certainly after the defeat of the Duc de Joyeuse at Coutras 20 Oct. 1587 and probably after the Day of Barricades, 12 May 1588 (see f. 141b), but before the death of the Queen Mother, 5 Jan. 1589 (see f. 151b). Beg. 'Gli alti disegni et intimi consegli'. Ends 'et conservatrici di questa Corona'.

5. ff. 165-184b. 'Discorso del Fiscale Regio di Sicilia Alla Maestà del Re Cattolico Filippo 3o Sopra la Monarchia di quel Regno dell' Anno 1606', with a marginal note identifying the author as 'Marij Gregorij Advocati fiscalis et Presidentis Tribunalis Consistorij in Regno Sicilie'. On Mario de Gregorio, died 20 May 1606, see A. Mongitore, Bibliotheca Sicula, ii, Palermo, 1714, p. 49. Beg. 'La Giurisdittione, et auttorità, quale Vostra Maestà usa'. Ends 'et fedeli servitori desiano'.

6. ff. 185-190b. 'Discorso del bene e male che Carlo V poteva fare alla sede Apostolica fatto dal Cardinale de Carpi'. Addressed to the Pope by Rodolfo Pio di Carpi, Cardinal 1536 (d. 2 May 1564). The treatise frequently refers to 'the Council', presumably of Trent (1545-1563) and on ff. 189, 189b to a mission of Cardinal Farnese to the Emperor. This is apparently the mission of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese to Charles V in April-June 1545, on which see Pastor, xii, pp. 217-225. Beg. 'Beatissimo Padre Considerando bene tutto lo stato presente'. Ends 'si possa meglio appoggiare, che à sua Maesta'.

7. ff. 191-220. 'Rissolutioni d'un Politico Cattolico sopra il corrente dubbio se Nostro Signore Papa Pauolo Vto Pontefice Massimo nella Chiesa di Dio dee ammetter il matrimonio trà La Sorella del Gran Duca di Toscana Cattolica et Il figlio del Rè d'Inghilterra Heretico et ciò tanto per raggione di stata quanto di Religione lasciata però la questione Theologale à chi tocca'; 1612. Refers to the marriage project between Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of James I, and the sister of Cosimo II, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Concerning this project, which seems to have been first proposed in October 1611 and was finally decided by the Prince's death on 6 November 1612, see S. R. Gardiner, History of England from the accession of James I to the outbreak of the Civil War 1603-1642, ii, 1889, pp. 139, 140, 153 and SP Ven. 1610-1613, pp. ix-xii, with the documents referred to there. In Harley MS. 6798, ff. 283-286 are 'Reasings inferringe that the Match with Florence is of more consequence to England than that of Savoye,'; in Add. 41613, ff. 215-216b, a tract by Sir Charles Cornwallis against the Tuscan match, and in Add. 40079, 19th-cent. transcripts of papers relating to it in the Florentine archives. The present tract is preceded by a dedicatory letter from the author to the Grand Duke's sister, Rome, August 1612 (f. 191). Beg. (f. 192) 'Benche sia malagevole l'accettar con discorso humano'. Ends 'ne di bene si fusse partita.'

8. ff. 221-239b. 'Discorso a Carlo Quinto Imperatore del signor Don Ferrante Gonzaga mostrando che il fortificar Milano è necessario et rispondendo alle raggioni contrarie'; 1552. Ferrante de Gonzaga, Conte di Guastalla and Duca d'Arriano, was Governor of Milan 31 March 1546-1 Feb. 1554, see further G. Goselini, Vita dell' Illustrissimo . . . Sig. D.F. Gonzaga, Principe di Molfetta, Pisa, 1821. The 'Discorso' was published from the original MS. in the Borghese Library, Rome, by L. Beltrami as Relazione di Don Ferrante Gonzaga Governatore di Milano inviata all' Imperatore Carlo V nel 1552 in difesa della progettata cinta dei bastioni, Milan, 1897. Beg. 'Quando io venuto al governo di Milano.' Ends 'contro qualunque si sia questa mia opinione.'

9. ff. 241-244b. 'Discorso del Vescovo di Viterbo'. Relates to the affairs of France and was apparently written during the minority of Charles IX, 5 Dec. 1560-15 Sept. 1563 (see f. 241b), presumably by Sebastiano Gualterio, Bishop of Viterbo 1551 and Papal nuncio to France, 1554-1556 and 1560-1561. On Gualterio see Merkle, pp. xxx-xxxv; for his embassies to France also J. Susta, Die römische Kurie und das Konzil von Trient unter Pius IV, i, Vienna, 1904, pp. lxxii-lxxv. Beg. 'Chi vuole discorrere con fondamento.' Ends 'che l' fanno intendere da p[arte] loro.'

10. ff. 247-251b. 'Discorso di Quali rimedij si debbano usare nel principio d'una ribellione, ò dolci, ò violenti.' Refers on f. 251b to the 'Interim', presumably the Interim of Ratisbon 1541, Augsburg 1548 or Zella 1548. Beg. 'Se siano migliori per opprimere i principij.' Ends 'et quando consiste nella forza si possano usar violenti.'

11. ff. 253-273b. 'Discorso di Monsignor Morvillier al Re di Francia mostrandoli con diverse ragioni che non sia bene ne utile alla Maestà muouer la guerra in Fiandra a favore dei sollevati et essortandolo alla pace con il Re Cattolico'; June 1572. An Italian version of the memorial by Jean de Morvillier, the French statesman, Bishop of Orléans 1552 and 'garde des sceaux' 1568-1570, written at the request of Charles IX of France in reply to the memorial of Admiral Coligny which was in favour of French intervention in the Netherlands. See further G. Baguenault de Puchesse, Jean de Morvillier, Paris, 1870, pp. 267-273 (the note on p. 268 gives details of MSS. of the memorial). The memorial was published in French by J.-A. de Thou, Histoire Universelle, iv, The Hague, 1740, pp. 555-563. Beg. 'Sire non debbe maravigliarsi alcuno'. Ends 'il piu felice Principe di Christianità. Nel Castel di Bologna li - di Giugno 1572'.

12. ff. 275-295. 'Humile significatione a Nostro Signore del modo di conseguir la conversione de Principi Heretici alla fede Cattolica'. Addressed to the Pope, refers on f. 287 to the project of Philip II of Spain to place his daughter on the throne of France. This project was being most pursued by Philip II, c. 1590. Beg. 'Il Primiero, e maggiore intento che debba havere il Papa'. Ends 'Non que nostra sunt, sed quae Jesu Christi. Amen'.

13. ff. 297-315b. 'Discorso di Malta', an account of the Knights of St John and the island. Apparently originally written when the Grand Master Jean l'Evesque de la Cassière (1502-1590) was 72 years old, i.e. c. 1574 and subsequently brought up to date by marginal notes, after March 1623 (see f. 308). Another 17th-cent. copy, with similar marginal notes, is Royal MS. 14 A.XX, ff. 624-642b, and Marsand, pp. i, 339, records a further one, attributed to 'Pietro Dusina', now Paris B.N. MS. Ital.720.

14. ff. 317-353b. 'Discorso del signor Giulio Cesare Caracciolo al Signor Ascanio suo fratello dell anno 1554 intorno al governo del Regno di Napoli et del modo di tenerlo gravato meglio munito'. Preceded by a letter from the author to his brother; 15 Feb. 1554 (ff. 317-318). Other manuscripts of this work, also known as the 'Ragionamento sulle condizioni del Regno di Napoli' are Venice Bibl. Marciana MS. Ital.cl.VI.310 and Vat. MS. Urb.Lat.824. For the author and the dedicatee see DBI, xix, pp. 311-312, 394-397. Beg. (f. 319b) 'Le molti invasioni, che hà sofferto'. Ends 'et lui per vero signore reputi'.

15. ff. 355-438b. 'Discorso del molto Illustre et Reverendissimo Monsignore Minuccio Minucci sopra il modo di restituire la religione Cattolica in Alemagna'. Minuccio Minucci, Archbishop of Zara 1596 (d. 7 March 1604), was a Papal diplomat who specialised in German affairs, on which he memorialised Pope Sixtus V in 1588 (see Pastor, xxii, pp. 122-129); the memorial is now Vat. MS. Urb.Lat.839, f. 107. The present 'Discorso' was apparently written in the Pontificate of Sixtus V (24 April 1585-27 Aug. 1590) and after Christian I became Duke of Saxony on 11 Feb. 1586 (see ff. 359, 359b). Beg. 'Ã cosi vasta provincia quella dell'Alemagna'. Ends 'à chi l'è indrizzata per l'istesso fine'.

16. ff. 439-452. 'Discorso sopra la Precedenza tra Spagna et Francia'. Probably compiled soon after the reign of Pope Julius III (1550-23 March 1555) from the nature of the references to this Pope in the 'Discorso'. Beg. 'perche il volgo fa molti discorsi'. Ends 'il petitorio non finerebbe mai di dichiararsi'. See also Add. 48118, art. 3.

17. ff. 453-460b. 'Discorso Nobile Santissimo circa alla Chiesa Greca'. Addressed to the King of Spain and written in the pontificate of Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585, see f. 453), 'gia sei Anni, che l'Patriarca d'Antiochia . . . venne à Roma' (see ff. 453, 453b). The Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Neemet, came to Rome in 1578 (see Pastor, xx, pp. 490, 491) which makes the date of the present treatise presumably 1584. Beg. 'Essendo essentialissima et Principalissima parte del Carico'. Ends 'et investigabil consiglio del Signore Dio'.

18. ff. 463-465b. Extract (here untitled and unattributed) from the dialogue 'Sacco di Roma' by Francesco Vettori. The speech by 'Basilio' copied here is on pp. 277-279 of Vettori's Scritti Storicie Politici, ed. E. Niccolini, 1972; there are a few verbal differences from the published version. For other surviving manuscripts of the dialogue and other printed editions see the edition by Niccolini cited above, pp. 412-441. See also R. Devonshire Jones, Francesco Vettori, 1972, pp. 167 ff. Beg. 'Se bene tu hai detto che io ero'. Ends 'si converti in odio manifesto'.

Paper; ff. i + 467. 17th-cent foliation. Folio. XVII cent. Various Italian hands. Vellum binding. Numbered '148' on the spine, which also bears traces of a label.

Political Tracts: Tracts conc. the Papacy, Italy, France, etc.,: c. 1524-1623, n.d.: Ital: Copies.

Elizabeth I of England: Papers of R. Beale, Clerk of the Council: 16th cent.

Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Correspondence and papers.

includes:

• ff. 1-13b Goffredo Lomellini, Clerk of the Apostolic Camera: Instructions by, for the Legate to France: 1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 1-13b Enrico Caetani, Cardinal: Instructions for, as Legate to France: 1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 1-13b Henry IV of France: G. Lomellini: instructions for the legate to France: 1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 1-13b Sixtus V; Pope: Instructions for the Legate to France, by G. Lomellini: 1589: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 15-114b Henry IV of France: A. d'Ossat, Discourse on the League in France: 1591: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 15-114b Arnaud de Ossat, Cardinal 1598: Discourse on the League in France: 1591: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 115-121 Ludovico Ludovisi, Cardinal: Tract rel. to: 1621-1623: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 115-121 Rome; Court of; and Popes, Bishops of. General: Discourse on the quality of various Cardinals by(?) Fratre Lodovico: 1621-1623: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 115-121 Scipione Borghese, Cardinal 1605: Tract rel. to: 1621-1623: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 123-163 Henry III of France: `Discorso de gli artificii de Signori della Lega di Congiura contro Arrigo III': 1588(?): Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 165-184b Philip III of Spain: M. de Gregorio, Discourse on the financial affairs of Sicily addressed to: 1606: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 165-184b Mario de Gregorio, Fiscale Regio of Sicily: Discourse on the financial affairs of Sicily, addressed to Philip III: 1606: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 165-184b Philip II of Naples and Sicily: Discourse by M. de Gregorio on the financial affairs of Sicily, addressed to: 1606: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 185-190b Charles V; Emperor of Germany: R. Pio di Carpi, `Discorso del bene e male che Carlo V. poteva fare alla sede Apostolica': 1545: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 185-190b Rodolpho Pio, di Carpi; Cardinal 1536: Discourse on the harm or good Emperor Charles V can do to the Apostolic See: 1545: Ital: Copy.
• ff. 185-190b Paul III; Pope: Discourse on the good or harm that Emperor Charles V can do to the Apostolic See, by Card. Pio di Carpi: 1545: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 191-220 Paul V; Pope: Tract on whether the Pope should allow the proposed marriage of the Prince of Wales to a sister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany: 1612: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 192-220 Cosimo II; Grand Duke of Tuscany: Tract rel. to proposed marriage between his sister and the Prince of Wales: 1612: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 192-220 Henry Frederick, Princes of Wales: Tract rel. to proposed marriage of to the sister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany: 1612: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 221-239b Milan: F. de Gonzaga, Discourse to Emperor Charles V on the fortifications of Milan: 1552: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 221-239b Ferrante de Gonzaga, Principe di Molfetta; Governor of Milan 1546-1554: Discourse to Emperor Charles V, showing why it is necessary to fortify Milan: 1552: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 241-244b Charles IX of France: Tract by S. Gualterio conc. the affairs of France: 1560-1563: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 241-244b Sebastiano Gualterio, Bishop of Viterbo: Tract conc. to the affairs of France: 1560-1563: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 253-273b Charles IX of France: Tract to, by J. de Morvillier, conc. intervention in Flanders: 1572: Ital. transl., 17th cent.
• ff. 253-273b Netherlands, General: Tract by J. de Morvillier conc. French intervention in: 1572: Ital. transl., 17th cent.
• ff. 253-273b Jean de Morvillier, French statesman; Bishop of Orléans: Tract to the King of France conc. intervention in Flanders: 1572: Ital. transl: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 275-295 Rome; Court of; and Popes, Bishops of. General: Tract addressed to the Pope conc. the conversion of heretic Princes to the Catholic faith: c. 1590: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 297-315b Island of Malta: `Discorso di Malta', by(?) P. Dusina: 1574: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 297-315b Pietro Dusina: `Discorso di Malta', attrib. to: circa 1574: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 310-316b Orders Military. St. John of Jerusalem: `Discorso di Malta' by(?) P. Dusina: c. 1574: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 317-353b Giulio Cesare Caracciolo, of Naples: `Discorso . . . intorno al governo del Regno di Napoli', dedicated to his brother A. Caracciolo: 1554: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 355-438b Germany, General: M. Minucci, Discourse on how to restore the Catholic religion in Germany: 1586-1590: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 355-438b Minuccio Minucci, Papal diplomatist; Archbishop of Zara 1596: Discourse how to restore the Catholic religion in Germany: 1586-1590: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 439-452 Political Tracts: Discourse on historical claims to precedence of France and Spain: c. 1555: Ital: Copies.
• ff. 439-452 France General: Spain, General: Discourse on historical claims to precedence of France and of Spain: c. 1555: Ital: Copies.
• ff. 453-460b Philip II of Spain: `Discorso . . . circa alla chiesa Greca' addressed to: 1584: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.
• ff. 463-465b Francesco Vettori: Extract from the dialogue `Sacco di Roma' of: c. 1524-1527: Ital: Copy, 17th cent.