From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’
to a Critical Bibliography. Tesori politici
in the British Library, and Elsewhere
in Britain
1
Simone Testa
The Thesoro politico is a collection of mainly political and diplomatic texts that circulated
largely in manuscript, before their editio princeps in 1589. It has long been considered a very
important book for early modern European literature, although its origins are mysterious,
and only very recently has some information become available regarding both the place of
publication and the person responsible for publishing the collection. This article is
concerned with the history of the Tesori politici, and argues that, after the first edition,
subsequent Tesori politici contained very different material under the same title because this
had become a fashionable one for disseminating information on the political situation of
European and extra-European countries, as well as supposedly secret pieces of advice to
envoys, cardinals, and decision-makers. Thus, the Tesoro politico is one of the most striking
examples of the widespread interest in politics at the turn of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries,2 one that combines a general curiosity for political affairs with the fashionable
discourse of ragion di stato, interest of state, and political prudence.3
1 This article is an expanded version of one chapter of my doctoral thesis. I would like to thank Dennis Rhodes
for lending me both his notes on the Thesoro politico, and his definition of the Thesoro politico as a
‘bibliographical nightmare’. I am grateful to Letizia Panizza, Jane Everson, Brian Richardson, and Laura
Nuvoloni, for their comments, to Susan Reed and Graham Hutt for their help with German and Chinese
references, and to Barry Taylor for his patience in editing the text. I shall use the word Tesoro when referring
to the publication without specific date, or when referring to the titles that did not use the ‘h’ between the ‘t’
and the ‘e’. In quotations and text titles I have added spaces or apostrophes to separate words, modernized
punctuation and capitalization, and added or removed accents in accordance with modern Italian usage, I have
changed ‘u’ into ‘v’ and vice versa to distinguish respectively vocalic and consonantal ‘u’, I have changed ‘j’
uniformly to ‘i’, and long ‘s’ into ‘s’, ‘&’ into ‘et’, and I have omitted all ‘h’ in Italian words in accordance
with modern Italian usage. Otherwise I have not modernized the spelling.
2 On the importance of the first Thesoro politico for the history of information, see Mario Infelise, Prima dei giornali.
Alle origini della pubblica informazione (secoli XVI e XVII) (Bari, 2002); and, in greater detail, Filippo de Vivo,
Information and Communication in Venice. Rethinking Early Modern Politics (Oxford, 2007).
3 In my interpretation, the first Thesoro politico should be considered an important publication within the discourse
on ragion di stato and interesse dello stato. I have outlined this interpretation in ‘Alcune riflessioni sul Thesoro politico
(1589)’, Bibliothèque d’Humanisme et Renaissance, liv (2002), pp. 679-87. On the similarities between the discourse
on ragion di stato, interesse dello stato, and prudenza politica, see A. E. Baldini (ed.), La ragion di stato dopo Meinecke
e Croce. Dibattito su recenti pubblicazioni, 2nd edn (Genoa, 2001). An updated bibliography is also on the website
www.ars.unina.it.
1 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
The first scholar to write a bibliographical account of the editions, reprints and
translations of the Tesori politici was Tommaso Bozza.4 His contribution is an important starting
point, although at times it is lacking some details that, I believe, should be more carefully
considered. In particular, Bozza does not comment on the content of the various editions,
reprints and translations. Jean Balsamo5 established once and for all some firm facts about the
origin of the Thesoro politico (1589), and proved that in many texts of this edition typographical
ornaments belonging to Parisian printers were used. Enzo Baldini uncovered documents from
the Archive of the Holy Office, where an anonymous memorandum stated that one Giovanni
Maria Manelli had printed the Thesoro politico in France.6
Starting from Bozza’s fundamental contribution, I shall add the details that I have been able
to gather by examining several copies of Tesori politici held in the British Library and elsewhere
in Britain,7 and by tracing the manuscript versions of the essays contained in the Tesori politici of
1598, 1601, 1605, 1608 and 16118 – including two manuscript English translations that have
been overlooked. Finally, I shall comment on the evidence that I have gathered regarding the
presence of the Tesori politici in the National Library of Scotland.
It is now possible to speak of three different Tesori politici, containing different material and
having different origins. The first is:
THESORO POLITICO | CIOÈ | RELATIONI | INSTRUTTIONI
TRATTATI, | DISCORSI VARII. | D’Amb(asciato)ri | Pertinenti alla cognitione,
et intelligenza delli stati, | interessi, et dipendenze de più gran Principi del | Mondo.
Nuovamente impresso a benef- | ficio di chi si diletta intendere, et per | tinentemente
discorrere li nego- | tii di stato. | [printer’s device] | Nell’Academia Italiana di
Colonia | L’Anno 1589.
1. A1r: Title; A1v: LO STAMPATORE AI LETTORI | Questo libro nel quale,
benigno lettore, hai sotto una maravigliosa eloquenza l’intiera notitia de
gl’affari, et interessi de’ principi si era cominciato a stampare per farne parte
al mondo, dandogli tutte le materie separate: ma si è considerato che molto più
grate saranno tutte insieme, ben che poco ordinate dei soliti numeri, et
corrispondenze come negli altri libri. Ricevilo volentieri con sicura speranza,
che ti debba giovar molto, et di vederne in breve il secondo volume meglio
ordinato, et più corretto. Et Dio ti guardi.
2. A2r-A2v: Tavola delle materie contenute in questo libro.
3. A1r-D2v: [Scipione Di Castro], Delli fondamenti dello stato et instrumenti del
regnare. Discorso eccellente.
4. a1r-d2v: [Michele Suriano, Paolo Tiepolo, and Anonymous], Relatione di
Roma.
5. M1r-N4v: [Paolo Tiepolo?], Relatione della corte et stati dell’imperatore.
6. Q1r-T3v: [Anonymous], Delle istorie antiche et moderne di Spagna; T4r-Z2r:
[Costantino Garzoni], Relatione di Portogallo.
7. AAA1r-CCC4v: [Marcantonio Barbaro], Relatione di Costantinopoli, con un
(CCC4r-DDD4r) [Anonymous] Discorso come l’impero turchesco ancorché
4 Tommaso Bozza, Scrittori politici italiani. 1550-1650 (Rome, 1949), pp. 68-71.
5 Jean Balsamo, ‘Les Origines Parisiennes du Tesoro politico (1589)’, Bibliothèque d’Humanisme et Renaissance, lxvii
(1995), pp. 7-21.
6 Artemio Enzo Baldini, ‘Origini e fortuna del Thesoro Politico alla luce di nuovi documenti dell’Archivio del
sant’Uffizio’, in Franco Buzzi and Chiara Continisio (eds.), Cultura politica e società a Milano tra Cinque e Seicento
(Milan, 2000), p. 173.
7 For the bibliographical description I have used Philip Gaskell, A New Introduction to Bibliography, 2nd edn
(Oxford, 1974), pp. 321ff.
8 For the reference to the authors and manuscript versions of the essays contained in the Thesoro politico (1589), see
Simone Testa, ‘Per una interpretazione del Thesoro politico (1589)’, Nuova rivista storica, lxxxv: 2 (2001), pp. 347-
62. Here I have added two references.
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From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
tirannico et violente sia perdurabile et per ragioni naturali invincibile.
8. H1r-I2r: [Maffeo Venier], Discorso dello stato presente del turco et del modo
di fargli una guerra totale; I2v-K4r: [Anonymous to the Grand Duke
of Tuscany], Relatione della repubblica di Venezia e stati suoi.
9. Y1r (X1 signed Y1 and X3 signed Y3)-Z4r-CC1v: [Michele Suriano],
Relatione di Francia; CC2r-EE4r: [Giovanni Maria Manelli?], Relatione delle
divisioni di Francia.
10. Aa1r-Cc4v: [Giovanni Michiel, and Anonymous], Relatione d’Inghilterra.
11. a1r-b2v: [Scipione Di Castro], Relatione degli stati di Fiandra.
12. O1r-P4v: [Emiliano Manolesso], Relatione di Ferrara.
13. aaa1r-ccc4r: [Andrea Gussoni], Relatione di Fiorenza et stati suoi.
14. A1r-D2v: [Giovan Battista Leoni], Relatione di Napoli.
15. A1r-C1v: [Scipione Di Castro], Relatione di Milano; C2r-C4r: [Anonymous],
Relatione de’ Svizzeri.
16. A1r-D3r: [Antonio Possevino], Relatione del regno di Svezia MCLXXVIII;
D3v-F3v: [Italian translation from Johan Coblensz] Relatione di don Filippo
Pernisten ambasciatore di sua maestà cesarea al gran principe di Moscovia 1579.9
17. AA1r-EE2r: [Giovanni Michieli], Relatione di Persia nella quale si ha notizia di
quella guerra fino all’anno 1588.
18. L1r-L2v: [Anonymous], Discorso sopra l’autorità del papa; L3r-L4v: [Giovanni
Francesco Commendone?], Discorso come l’imperio dipenda dal papa.
19. A1r-E2r: Ragionamento all’illustrissimo et reverendissimo sign(ore) il sign(or)
cardinale San Sisto del sig(nor) Fabio Albergati. Circa il modo come doveva
comportarsi mentre che come nipote di papa Gregorio aveva sopra di sé la carica de
i negotii della Santa Sede; E2r-I1r: [Anonymous], Instruttione per l’illustrissimo
et reverendissimo sig(nore) cardinale Mont’Alto, nipote di nostro signore Sisto
Quinto, fatta del 1587.
20. A1r-Dd2v: Discorso sopra le attioni del conclave di Gio(vanni) Francesco Lottino.
21. containing [Anonymous to Luis Torres]
Instruttione data ad un prelato quando andò alla corte di Spagna, per trattare col
re, sopra la conclusione della lega, tra Pio Quinto, re di Spagna et venetiani.
22. A1r-F4r: [Michele Soriano], Trattato fatto dal Clarissimo N. N. intorno alla
.
conclusione della lega fatta tra Papa [Pio] V Il ser(enissi)mo re cattolico, et
l’ill(ustrissi)ma sig(no)ria di Venetia; F4v-L3v: Discorso dell’interregno di Polonia
dell’anno M.D.LXXXVII di Horatio Spannorchi; L4r-M4r: [Anonymous],
Discorso sopra l’ elettione da farsi del nuovo re di Polonia M.D.LXXXVII.
23. E1r-F3r: [Francesco Peranda],10 Instruttione a N. nuntio di S(ua) S(antità) alla
ser(enissi)ma republica di Venetia; F3v-G2r: [Francesco Peranda], Instruzione a
N. quando andò nuntio alla corte cesarea; G2v-G3v: [Anonymous], Instruttione
a N. quando andò ambasciatore agli Svizzeri; G4r-G4v: [Anonymous], Del
governo dei Grigioni et modo di negotiar con loro.
24. A1r-E1r: [Niccolò Tiepolo], Relatione del clarissimo N. ritornato ambasciatore
9 The author of this relazione was Johan Coblensz, who wrote it for the Archduke of Austria, after his journey
to Russia in 1576. The report was later put into Latin (1577). This is the only Italian translation of which I
am aware. See J. Cobencelii, ‘De legatione ad moscovitas epistula’, in Adal’bert de Starczewski (ed.), Historiae
ruthenicae scriptores exteri saeculi XVI, vol. ii (Berolini et Petropoli, 1842), pp. 13-20.
10 Giovan Francesco Peranda, from Treviso, was secretary at the court of Rome and wrote instructions and
pieces of advice for various cardinals. In particular, he served under Cardinals Francesco Gonzaga, Niccolò
Caetani Sermoneta, and his nephew Enrico Caetano. See the short, apologetic biography by Girolamo
Ghilini, Teatro d’uomini letterati aperto dall’Abate Girolamo Ghilini, Academico Incognito, 2nd edn (Venice:
Guerigli, 1647), p. 106. A work entitled Lettere del signor Giovan Francesco Peranda segretario famosissimo della
corte di Roma was published four times in Venice during the seventeenth century. The publishers were:
Giovan Giacomo Tosi (1609), Giovan Francesco Fiorentini (1614), Barezzo Barezzi (1623 and 1635).
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
dal convento di Nizza. Dove fu fatto l’aboccamento da la Santità di Papa Paulo
Terzo con Carlo Quinto imperatore, et col re Francesco primo di Francia col mezzo
di Sua Santità conclusa la tregua tra l’una et l’altra maestà per anni dieci. E1v: Il
fine delle Relationi | Instruttioni, et vari | Discorsi d’Ambasciatori, stampati
in Colo-| nia per Alberto Coloresco stampatore | dell’Accademia, l’anno
1589. | Il mese di Settembre.
BL pressmark 521.d.14 (see fig. 1).
After this edition, the Tesoro politico was reprinted in 1592 with the same title, at Torrona, with
the note ‘terza impressione’.11
Another Thesoro politico appeared, in quarto, in 1593.12 This edition is also published in the
‘Academia Italiana di Colonia’, the title page is the same as in the 1589 edition, and at the end of
the volume is again written ‘Alberto Coloresco, stampatore dell’Accademia settembre 1593’. This
time the book seems identical to the 1589 edition, but a closer analysis shows that the
typographical ornament on the front page is different, and so is the order of the texts within the
volume,13 whereas the typographical ornaments at the head of some texts are identical through
the rest of the volume. In 1598 two editions in octavo appeared as printed in the mysterious
‘Academia Italiana di Colonia’, containing almost all the same material as the Thesoro politico of
1589. The 1598 is in octavo, and the material of one of two copies held in the British Library is
divided into three sections. The first section has an index at the beginning, whereas the second
and the third sections have an index at the end.14
In 1600 the Tesoro politico emerged from anonymity to be printed in Milan, in quarto, by a
well-known printer, Girolamo Bordone,15 and with the name of the person responsible for the
11 Bozza writes ‘Tournon (Ardèche)’ (p. 68). There is no indication whether this volume is in quarto or in
octavo. I have not been able to consult a copy of this edition. According to Jean Balsamo, this corresponds to
the 1598 edition and it has therefore been antedated. Balsamo, ‘Les Origines’, p. 9.
12 I have consulted copies of this edition in Oxford, Bodleian Library (Holk.d.67) and Bologna, Biblioteca
Universitaria.
13 This is also pointed out by Balsamo, ‘Les Origines’, p. 10. A comparison between four copies, two from 1589
and two from 1593, shows that several raised letter spaces occur in the same places, and that a paste-on cancel
was added at the bottom line of ‘Trattato fatto dal Claris.mo N. N. intorno alla conclusione della lega fatta tra
Pio Papa vo. Il ser.mo Re Cattolico, et l’Ill.ma Sig.ria di Venetia’, f. D4v. This suggests that the texts of the Thesoro
politico were printed at the same time, and that the 1593 copy was a re-issue of the 1589 edition. See 1589
copies in the British Library and Merton College, Oxford (65.E.9), and the 1593 copies in Oxford, Bodleian
Library (Holk.d. 67), and Bologna, Biblioteca Universitaria.
14 The title is identical, but for a few words at the end: ‘le cose di stato’ instead of ‘li negotii di stato’. There are
three copies in the BL: 521.c.19, 229.k.22, 521.c.20 (see fig. 2). Interestingly, the report from Venice is
different from that of the 1589 edition; the title is: Discorso intorno allo stato, alle forze, et al regimento
dell’illustrissima Rep(ublica) di Venetia: ‘incipit: Havendo io intrapreso di ragionar brevemente… explicit: …
come s’è palesemente veduto, che infino a qui l’ha avuta’. Dennis Rhodes (in his unpublished notes) says:
‘Part two and three, but not part one, contain woodcut initials and fleurons. The four preliminary leaves of
the two copies are of a different set of type.’ The second copy of the 1598 edition is, still according to Rhodes,
‘a spurious reprint of the preceding edition. The spurious copy contains not a single woodcut initial or
ornament, and so it is impossible to say where it was printed.’ Both copies contain nearly all the same writings
of the 1589 edition, but in a different order with respect to the first edition and also with respect to one
another.
15 He was a famous printer and bookseller active in Milan between 1586 and 1598, and died probably in 1620.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 1. BL, 521.d.14.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 2. 229.k.22.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
collection of the material: Comino Ventura, who, according to old catalogues, had also taken
responsibility for publishing the first Thesoro politico (1589).16 Both the writings and the sequence
of the 1600 Milanese copy are the same as in the 1589, but the title is slightly changed by adding
the expression ‘ragion di stato’. Starting from Giovanni Botero’s treatise of 1589,17 this phrase
was to define a whole series of political treatises:
La Prima Parte | DEL | THESORO | POLITICO | IN CUI SI CONTENGONO
Relationi, Istruttioni Trattati et varii Discorsi, pertinenti | alla perfetta intelligenza
della | RAGION DI STATO, | Et all’intiera cognitione degl’Interessi, et
dipendenze dei più | gran Prencipi, et Signori del Mondo. | Raccolto per Comin
Ventura da essemplari dell’Acad(emia) Ital(iana) di Colonia. | [printer’s device]18
| Con licenza dei superiori | In MILANO, Appresso Girolamo Bordone, e
Compagni. | L’anno del Santiss(imo) Giubileo MDC. In 8º: a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 A-Z
Aa-Ss7 (Ss4 has no signature Ss6v and Ss7r-v are blank).
BL pressmark for the 1600 and 1601 editions: 29.b.13,14 (see figs 3, 4).
This volume was dedicated to Gherardo Basso, ‘Consigliere e generale delle Poste dell’Altezza
Serenissima di Savoia’, by Girolamo Bordone on 20 May 1600.19
A ‘Seconda parte’, almost completely new,20 followed in 1601 as a continuation of the 1600
edition, although the expression ‘ragion di stato’ is omitted, while stress is put on the utility of
the book for those who are involved in politics:
La Seconda parte del | THESORO | POLITICO | NELLA QUALE SI
CONTENGONO | Trattati, Discorsi, Relationi, Ragguagli, Instruttioni di molta
| importanza per li maneggi, interessi, pretensioni, di- | pendenze, e disegni dei
Principi. | Opera molto aggradevole agli elevati et nobilissimi ingegni che si compiaccio-
| no di materia di Stato et anco molto utile a gli stessi Principi, ai Secre- | tari,
Ambasciatori, et a tutti quelli, che negli affari | dei Principi s’impiegano. | Di nuovo
raccolto ad instanza di Girolamo Bordone et Pietro Martire Locarni. | CON
PRIVILEGIO [printer’s device]21 | In MILANO, appresso Girolamo Bordone
16 This mistake is understandable not only because Ventura published the 1600 edition, but also because of his
interest in the French Civil War, Raccolta d’alcune scritture pubblicate in Francia nel principio degli ultimi moti
di quel regno dal 1585 al 1588 (Bergamo: Comin Ventura, 1593), and his publication of Giovanni Botero, La
prima e seconda parte delle relationi universali (Bergamo, 1594). On Comino Ventura (d. 1617), see edit 16
online.
17 Giovanni Botero, Della ragion di stato libri diece con tre libri delle cause della grandezza delle città (Venice:
Gioliti, 1589).
18 This consists of three trees, an inkwell, and a cat with a mouse in its mouth. The word ‘Valascus’ along the
trunk of the central tree, The motto is ‘Crescit occulto’. See ‘Marche tipografiche editoriali’ (MAR.T.E.),
701.
19 In the seventeenth century Bordone and Locarni published several other books such as Andreini’s Rime,
Morigi’s Historia della nobilità et degne qualità del lago Maggiore, etc. In general, they seem to have abandoned
the publication of political texts. See Dennis E. Rhodes, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Italian Books in the
British Library, 3 vols (London, 1986), iii, p. 1022.
20 Bozza declares that the second part contains completely new material, which is not accurate. Three writings
are the same as those in the first Thesoro Politico (1589), although they have a different title. I have marked
them ***.
21 This is the same as above (see fig. 4).
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Fig. 3. 29.b.13.
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Fig. 4. 29.b.14.
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e Pietro Martire Lo- | carni compagni. M. DCI. | Con licenza dei superiori.
In 8º: a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 A-Z Aa-Kk5 (Kk3 and Kk4 are not signed, Kk5r-v is blank).22
It is interesting to note that this particular Tesoro politico is the only one which is officially
approved by authorities: ‘APPROBATIO. | Imprimendi, divulgandique potestatem fecerunt: |
ALOYSIUS BOSSIUS Canon. Ord. Theol. Pro Illustris. Card. Archiep. | ANTONIUS
POGGIUS pro Excellentissimo Senatu’.
On 14 October 1601, the book was dedicated to Lodovico Ricci ‘feudatario, et de i Sessanta
del Consiglio generale della Città di Milano’ by Girolamo Bordone and Pietro Martire Locarni.
The material here contained is similar to the material of the first Thesoro politico, but is not as
original. There are borrowings from a previously published book, and the content is not as
focused on the geopolitical aspect as it was in the first Thesoro politico. Treatises on fortifications
are included.
1. [René de Lucinge], Trattato della religione, nel quale si dimostra quella essere il
fondamento accrescimento, et conservatione delli stati, p. 1.23
2. [René de Lucinge], Trattato, se le lettere, come alcuni hanno avuto opinione,
impediscono che in quella provincia, dove elle sono in prezzo, non si allevino buoni
soldati, p. 6.
3. [René de Lucinge], Trattato quale è meglio in ocasione di guerra andar noi ad
assalire il nemico in casa sua, o aspettare che egli assalisca noi nella nostra, p. 12.
4. [René de Lucinge], Trattato delle occasioni; la facilità che apportano ne gli affari
humani, et specialmente in quelli della guerra; la celerità che bisogna usare in
pigliarle quando si appresentano, p. 17.
5. [René de Lucinge], Trattato nel quale si oppugna et confuta la ignominiosa
22 The manuscript English translation is BL, Add. MS. 24847. Here I transcribe the catalogue description:
‘THE Treasure of Pollicye: wherin ar conteyned Discourses, Relations and instructions of great importance for ye
managing of negotiations, dependencies, affairs and deseignments of Princes. Apparently translated from the
Italian, a professional scrivener carried out the XVII century translation. The author speaks of having served
under the Duke of “Mania” in the battle of Lepanto, and refers to a book of Commentaries written by
himself. The subjects of the discourses are: “Religion in its relation to the state”, f. 8; “On an offensive or
defensive policy in war”, f. 9v; “Concerning occasions,” f. 11b; Refutation of “the shamlesse and ignominious;
opinion of Machiauall [Machiavelli] that it is not unlawfull for a prince to be perfidious”, f. 19; “Concerninge
the vse of fortresse, or the bringing in of Colonies etc.”, f. 21; “Concerninge the affaires of the Turke”, f. 24v;
“How there may be wrought an alination of mindes and discension in the subiectes of the Turke”, f. 29v; “A
millitary discourse [on the art of war] of Colonell Luca Antonio Tomasoni of Terni”, f. 32v; “A discourse of
Horatorio Malaguzzi of Reggiano, wherin is made a diligent comparison of the greatnes of the states of the
Catholick Kinge, Presbiter John the great Cane [Khan] of Tartaria, the Sophi, otherwise called ye Kinge of
Persia, and the great Turke”, f. 36v; “A relation of diuers leagues of the Swizzers [Swiss]”, f. 42; “A relation
of the religion and state of the Kinge of Ethiopia, called Presbiter John, with a discourse to Pope Grigorie the
13”, f. 55v; “A relation of the great citty of Quinsay [Kingssé, now Hang-chau-fu] and of the Kinge of China
with a dedication to Luigi Gonzaga [St. Aloysius]; 16 June, 1584”, f. 61. Paper, early XVII c. Folio’. The
manuscript is bound in leather. In the first few pages, probably from the nineteenth century, is a clearly
structured Table of Contents, with page references.
23 Chapters 1-5 and 7-9 are a selection of chapters from René de Lucinge, De la Naissance, durée et cheute des
estats (Paris: Orry, 1588). This version was taken from the Italian translation Dell’origine, conservatione e
decadenza degli stati, transl. Girolamo Naselli (Ferrara: Mammarello, 1590), where also Malaguzzi’s text was
added. See Michael Heath, ‘Montaigne, Lucinge and the Tesoro politico’, Bibliothèque d’Humanisme et
Renaissance, xlv (1982), pp. 131-35. See also René de Lucinge, De la naissance, durée et chute des estats, ed.
Michael J. Heath (Genève, 1984). On the hypothesis that Lucinge may have been inspired by the first Thesoro
politico in writing his work, see J. Balsamo, ‘René de Lucinge et le Tesoro politico’, in O. Zegna Rata (ed.),
Colloque internationale René de Lucinge (Lyon, 2000), pp. 2-11.
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oppinione del Machiavello, il quale non si è vergognato di dire, esser lecito un
principe mancare di parola e rompere la fede quando se gli mostra occasione di un
bel gioco per beneficio del suo stato, p. 35.
6. [Anonymous], Trattato in materia di fortezze, p. 40.
7. [René de Lucinge], Trattato delle varie opinioni circa l’uso delle fortezze, o
introduttione di colonie, o mantenimento continuo di esserciti, per custodia degli
stati, p. 49.
8. [René de Lucinge], Discorso sopra le cose del turco, nel quale primieramente si
mostra essere vana la diffidenza che si ha, che ai cristiani sia impossibile vincerlo
con forza aperta. Et ultimamente si insegna il modo di fare una lega senza difetti,
et bastevole ad espugnare questo gran tiranno, p. 58.
9. [René de Lucinge], Discorso come potrebbe generarsi alienatione d’animi et
dissensione nelli sudditi del turco, p. 70.
10. Discorso militare del colonnello Luca Antonio Tomasoni da Terni, p. 77.
11. Discorso dell’ill(ustre) sig(nor) Horatio Malaguzzi gentiluomo reggiano nel quale
[…] viene fatto paragone della grandezza degli stati […] domini dei cinque tra li
più potenti signori dell’universo, p. 86.24
12. Discorso esortazione per l’impresa d’Inghilterra del cavalier Spannocchi, p. 101.25
13. [Anonymous], Discorso fatto l’anno 1588 sopra l’armata del re cattolico, dove per
fondamento di ragione di stato si andava investigando qual impresa sua maestà si
destinasse di fare con quelle forze, et in particolare si disputava qual era meglio
assalire la Fiandra, o la Inghilterra, p. 112.26
14. [Anonymous], Ragguaglio distintissimo delle fortezze et porti della Inghilterra et
della Scozia con uno discorso sopra le difficoltà che potrebbono trovarsi, andando
all’acquisto di quel regno, p. 132.27
15. [Anonymous], Narratione del successo che ebbe la sopradetta armata cattolica,
p. 141.
16. [Anonymous], Relatione di diverse leghe degli Svizzeri, p. 155.
17. [Anonymous], Relatione della religione et stato del re d’Etiopia prete Gianni. Con
un discorso a papa Gregorio XIII, nel quale si propone il modo di fare grande
augumento della religione cattolica per mezzo di quello re, p. 202.28
18. Relatione della grande città del Quinsai, del re della Cina, di Contugo Contughi,
all’ill(ustrissi)mo sig(nor) Luigi Gonzaga, p. 217.29
19. Relatione d’Urbino, fatta dal clarissimo Lazaro Mocenigo, p. 237.30
24 Orazio Malaguzzi Veleri (1532-1583), counsellor and ambassador to the Estense court and to Pope Pius V.
25 Tiburzio Spannocchi (Siena 1541 – Madrid 1606), brother of Orazio Spannocchi, Bishop of Chiusi (see
above), fortifications superintendent to the Kings of Spain Philip II and Philip III. He wrote various pieces
of advice related to military affairs and engineering. See Carlo Promis, Biografie di ingegneri militari italiani,
in Deputazione storia patria (ed.), Miscellanea di storia italiana, series i, vol. xiv (Turin, 1874), pp. 583-91.
26 BL, Royal MS. 14 A. XXI, ff. 147-180v: ‘Sopra le potenti cagioni che debbono spingere il re cattolico più
all’impresa d’Inghilterra che a quella di Fiandra. Ove si dimostra anco quanta facilità, o non molta difficultà
si potria conseguire.’ In the margin is written in a different hand: ‘Questa relatione si vede stampata già nel
Tesoro politico.’ Another copy is Add. MS. 21565, ff. 1-10.
27 An account of the names of English ports and fortifications for Pope Sixtus V. A seventeenth-century copy in
Add. MS 48153 (Yelverton MS. 164), ‘Nomi dei porti et fortezze d’Inghilterra’, ff. 232-45.
28 Eg. MS. 1087, eighteenth-century transcriptions, ff. 480-84 contains a shorter copy, with several differences
in the text: ‘Relatione de la religione et stato del Rè di Ettiopia, nominato il Prete Gianni’. Incipit ‘Questo re
è christiano’, explicit ‘per non esser troppo tedio.’
29 This report is another edition of Marco Polo’s description of China, with additions taken from other
travellers. See Joseph Brucker, ‘Une enciclopédie des choses de Chine’, Études, cxiii (1907), p. 554, and Henri
Cordier, Bibliotheca sinica. Dictionnaire bibliographique des ouvrages relatifs a l’empire chinois, vol. iv (Taipei,
1966), cols 3054-55. On Contughi, see Amat di San Filippo, Biografia dei viaggiatori italiani colla bibliografia
delle loro opere, 2nd edn, 2 vols (Rome, 1882-84), i, p. 354.
11 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
20. Relatione di Candia del sig(nor) Brunoro Zampeschi,31 alla signoria di
Venetia, p. 253.
21. [Anonymous], Relatione della republica lucchese, l’anno 1583, p. 262.32
22. [Anonymous], Relatione del governo della republica di Genova 1583, p. 270.33
23. [Anonymous], Relatione della morte del duca di Ghisa nell’anno 1588, p. 283.
24. [Anonymous], Relatione della morte di Henrico III re di Francia nell’anno 1590,
p. 289.
25. Relatione del clarissimo sig(nor) Girolamo Lippomano ritornato ambasciatore dal
serenissimo di Savoia, p. 292.34
26. ***Instruttione ai prencipi per saper bene governare li stati, di don Scipione da
Castro, p. 337.35
27. [Anonymous], Ordini et instruttioni dell’impero romano secondo che fu instituito
al tempo che gli germani cominciorno a possederlo, p. 365.
28. [Anonymous], Ricordi in generale per ministri di prencipi presso ad altri prencipi,
et altre osservationi per segretarii, p. 377.36
29. [Anonymous], Instruttione al signor Giulio per andare alla corte cesarea del 1549
per la restituzione di Piacenza, p. 388.
30. [Anonymous], Instruttione al signor Giulio a parte, quando tornò all’imperatore,
p. 392.
31. [Anonymous], Instruttione a m(esser) Gurone Bertano, mandato da sua santità
alla maestà cesarea. Per conto della pace tra lei et il re cristianissimo 1547,
p. 394.37
32. [Anonymous], Instruttione publica per il Poggio mandato all’imperatore,
30 A short version of this relazione was published in Alberi, Relazioni, series ii, vol. ii (Florence, 1841), pp. 95-
112. Abraham De Wicquefort, L’Ambassadeur et ses fonctions, Livre ii (Cologne: Pierre Marteau, 1690), p.
196, praised Lazaro Mocenigo and Gerolamo Lippomano for their relazioni from Urbino and Savoy.
31 Brunoro Zampeschi (Forlì, 1540 - 1578), military commander, served the papacy and then the Venetian
republic. He was in Candia between 1573 and 1577. See Carlo Promis, Biografie di ingegneri militari italiani,
pp. 580-3. Amat di Sanfilippo, Biografia, i, p. 314.
32 This appeared first in Francesco Sansovino, Del governo dei regni et delle repubbliche antiche et moderne. Libri
XVIII. Ne’ quali si contengono i magistrati, gli officii et gli ordini proprii che s’osservano ne’ predetti principati.
Dove si ha cognitione di molte istorie particolari, et utili et necessarie al viver civile. Di Francesco Sansovino
(Venice, 1561), ff. 181r-183v (other editions 1566, 1567, 1578, 1583, 1607). It was republished in Alberi,
Relazioni, series II, vol. 2, pp. 455-63, but is anonymous, and perhaps incomplete. A manuscript version is in
BL, Add. MS 48080 (Yelverton MS. 87), ff. 71-76.
33 First published in Sansovino, Del governo dei regni (Venice, 1561), ff. 134v-138v. The same report was
republished in Alberi, Relazioni, ii, 2, pp. 431-43, with the warning that it is more a sketch of the Genoese
republic than a proper diplomatic relazione, and probably is not even Venetian.
34 Published in Alberi, Relazioni, ii, 2, pp. 193-224. For a manuscript copy, see BL, Add. MS. 8550, ff. 52-81v.
Alberi notes that this relazione lingers particularly on the political aspects of the Court of Savoy.
35 This corresponds to ‘Dei fondamenti dello stato et instrumenti del regnare’ in the first Thesoro politico (1589),
but with a long subtitle: ‘Dove si tratta di quelle parti, che formano un Prencipe degno di regnare, et habile
a ciò fare con guadagnarsi l’amore, et la riverenza de suoi popoli; et mettersi in gran stima, et honorata
riputatione appresso l’altre genti’. At the end, a paragraph on ‘giustizia correttiva’ is missing. The two
editions also have small textual differences.
36 This is an extract of a more complete text, ‘Ricordi per ministri de principi che negotiano presso un altro
principe per loro secretarie et per fare ne i ritorni à loro principi le relationi’, in Add. MS. 48154 (Yelverton
MS. 165), ff. 5-24v. Another copy, not complete, is in Add. MS. 8294, ff. 38-42 and 60-1.
37 Gurone Bertano (1499-1573). This instruction refers to the Pope’s attempt to renew the Treaty of Crépy
(1544) with the French king. The context of Bertano’s life and work has been outlined by Roberto Zapperi,
‘Bertano, Gurone’, in DBI, vol. ix (1967), pp. 463-7.
12 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
pp. 399-401.38
33. [Ottavio Farnese], Instruttione data a Monte Merlo, p. 402.
34. [A. Vicecancellarius], Instruttione per Antonio dat(a) in Campo alli 23 d’Ottobre
del 1546, p. 408.
35. [Ferdinando Gonzaga], Instruttione a voi capitan Segan, p. 412.
36. [Anonymous], Instruttione a m(esser) Bartolomeo Cavalcanti39 mandato da
s(ua) santità al re cristianissimo, p. 414.
37. [Anonymous], Instruttione a monsignor reverendissimo Sfrondato, p. 418.
38. [Anonymous], Instruttione all’ ill(ustrissi)mo et rever(endissi)mo sig(nor)
cardinal Gaetano per la sua legatione di Francia l’anno 1589, p. 420.40
39. [Brancosius secr.], Instruttione del principe da Ponte41 alli sign(ori) ambasciatori
che vanno alla corte cattolica per l’acquisto del regno di Portogallo, p. 426.
40. [Anonymous], Avvisi et essempi pertinenti a capitani generali di eserciti e armate,
p. 431.
41. Avvertimenti al sig(nor) Marc’Antonio Colonna quando andò vicere di Sicilia. Di
don Scipio Di Castro, p. 450.
42. ***Avvertimenti a monsig(nor) Annibale di Capua quando andò nuncio a
Venezia e anco quando [andò] alla corte cesarea. Di m(esser) Francesco Peranda,
p. 484.42
43. [Francesco Peranda?], Instruttione all’ ill(ustrissi)mo Pietro Caietano quando
andò in Fiandra, p. 502.43
44. Lettera del secretario Giuliano Goselini, in materia di stato, p. 518.44
38 Giovanni Poggio, papal nuncio to the Emperor (Dec. 1536 - Mar. 1541). For a more complete copy of the
instruction, see Add. MS. 48122 (Yelverton MS. 137), ff. 46-50 ‘Instruttione publica’ from Pope Paul III to
Giovanni Poggio, nuncio to the Emperor, concerning the Turkish threat, c. 1534-1538. Beg. ‘Vedendo noi
l’evidente pericolo’. Ends ‘tutta la negotiatione nostra’.
39 Florentine, ambassador and author, Bartolomeo (Baccio) Cavalcanti (1503-1562), see Claudio Mutini,
‘Cavalcanti, Bartolomeo’, in DBI, vol. xxii (1979), pp. 611-17.
40 The instruction is dated 4 October 1589. On Enrico Caetani (Sermoneta 1550 – Rome 1599), papal legate to
France in September 1589, see Gaspare De Caro, ‘Caetani, Enrico’, in DBI, vol. xvi (1973), pp. 148-55. I have
been able to establish that, despite the similarities of both title and date, the text is different from Add. MS.
48133, ff. 1-13, ‘Discorso di monsignor Lomellino sopra le cose di Francia et del modo che deve tenere
monsignor illustrissimo legato nel suo negotiare in quel regno’, dated 5 October 1589, according to BL
catalogue.
41 The Venetian Doge Nicolò da Ponte (1491-1585).
42 This is the same as [Francesco Peranda’s] ‘Instruttione a N. nuntio alla ser(enissi)ma republica di Venetia’ and
‘Instruttione a N. nuntio alla corte cesarea’, in Thesoro politico (1589), but the 1602 edition of the instruction
to the nuncio to Venice has names of Venetian nobles which are missing in the 1589 edition.
43 An English translation in Add. MS. 34216, f. 50 ‘The Instructions of Cardinall Sermonetta [Enrico Gaetani]
to his cozen Pietro Cartano [Caietano, Papal Nuncio in Flanders], at his first going into Flanders to the Duke
of Parma to serve Philipp [II.] King of Spain’ [1590]’. Add. MS. 8376, ff. 1-34, declares that the author is
Francesco Peranda, Enrico Caetani’s secretary. For other manuscript copies in English, see Harley MS. 1877,
f. 33, Harley MS. 4228, f. 98, and Sloane MS. 1710, ff. 19-22; and in Italian Cotton MS Galba C. vii, f. 16.
Printed in Instructions for Young Gentlemen; or, The Instructions of Cardinall Sermonetta to his Cousen Pietro
Caetano at his First Going into Flanders to the Duke of Parma to Serve Phillip, King of Spain (Oxford: John
Lichfield for Thomas Huggins, 1633); and also in Manual of Prudential Maxims for Statesmen and Courtiers:
With Instructions for Youth, Gentlemen and Noblemen. By Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord Treasurer Burleigh, and
Cardinal Simonetta, the second edition (London; Mears and Clay, 1728), pp. 57-99.
44 Giuliano Gosellini (1525?-1587), secretary to Ferrante Gonzaga, General Governor of the Duchy of Milan.
See Massimo Carlo Giannini, ‘Gosellini, Giuliano’, in DBI, vol. lviii (2002), pp. 110-14.
13 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
The Milanese edition of 1600-01 was reprinted in Vicenza by Giorgio Greco who used the
1600 title; the printer’s dedication to Count Galeazzo Trissino45 is dated 20 December 1601:
TESORO | POLITICO | IN CUI SI CONTENGONO | Relationi, Instruttioni,
Trattati, et varii | Discorsi pertinenti alla perfetta | intelligenza della RAGION DI
STATO. | Et all’intera cognitione de gl’Interessi, et dipendenze | dei più gran principi
et signori del Mondo. | DIVISO IN TRE PARTI | [Printer’s device]46 | VICENZA,
6
PER GIORGIO GRECO MDCII | con licenza dei Superiori. In 8º: a A8 E7 (E4 blank)
F6 χ2 G8 H-Z (H3 is signed H2 in error) Z5 Z6 Aa-Zz (no Ii gathering Ll1
r-v r-v
signed KK in error) Aaa-Hhh χ1 2-4 χ4.
BL, 521.c.21 (see fig. 5).
This volume, which contains the material of the first Thesoro politico, respects the table of
contents of the 1589 copy, but the writings within the text are disposed differently, and some
writings are missing in this edition, for instance, the Istrutione al Cardinal San Sisto, del sig(nor)
Fabio Albergati. Other writings may have been changed with respect to the original edition. This
confirms that a systematic comparison of the content of the three ‘Parti’, the several reprints and
translations is necessary in order to understand the Tesoro politico as an editorial phenomenon.
Dennis Rhodes registers another copy published in 1602:
La seconda parte del | THESORO | POLITICO, | NELLA QUALE SI
CONTENGONO | Trattati, Discorsi, relationi, Ragguagli, In- | struttioni, di
molta importanza per li maneg- | gi, interessi, pretensioni, dipendenze et dise- |
gni dei principi. | Opera molto aggradevole a gli elevati et nobilis- | simi ingegni, che
si compiaccino di materia di | Stato, et anco molto utile a gli stessi Principi, a |
Secretari, Ambasciatori, et a tutti quelli, che | negl’affari de Principi s’impiegano. |
Racholta [sic] da Fabritio Romanci | [typographical ornament] | IN TORONA, |
Appresso Pietro Fegher. 1602.47
This copy contained the same dedicatory letter to Lodovico Ricci as the 1601 edition, signed
by Girolamo Bordone and Pietro Martire Locarni.
The second Tesoro politico was also reprinted in Bologna in 1603, with dedication dated 10
February 1603 by ‘Gli uomini della Compagnia nova della stampa in Bologna’.48 The writings
follow the same order of the 1601 edition, and the title is
45 Trissino was to be the author of Della santa città di Dio, et dell’empia città del demonio, libri due; nei quali si ha
cognitione così delle più segnalate attioni, che nelle sacre, o profane historie si contengono: come anche di tutti gli
uomini i quali sieno stati famosi o infami (Padua: Bolzetta, 1612).
46 This is a bird on a trunk, but without the motto ‘Sine Felle’. MAR.T.E. A150-Z1181.
47 I have only been able to see a reproduction of the title page of this volume, which is not in the British Library
collection. Pietro Fegher is obviously a fictitious name, as Fabrizio Romanci. In the same year another edition
in octavo appeared in Bologna, printed by Gierolamo Tamburino. I have been able to consult it in the National
Library of Scotland. Both title and fleuron on the title page are identical to the edition printed by Fegher.
48 This signature recalls the ‘Società tipografica bolognese’, active between 1572 and 1582 with the purpose of
revitalizing the publishing trade of the city. See Pierangelo Bellettini, ‘La stamperia camerale di Bologna’, La
Bibliofília, xc (1988), pp. 29-30; Albano Sorbelli, ‘Carlo Sigonio e la Società Tipografica bolognese’, La Bibliofília,
xxxiii (1921-22), pp. 95-105.
14 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 5. 521.c.21.
15 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
CONTINUATIONE | DEL THESORO | POLITICO| NELLA QUALE SI
CONTENGONO | Trattati, Discorsi, Relationi, Ragguagli, Instruttioni, | di molta
importanza per li maneggi, interessi, preten- | sioni, dipendenze e disegni dei
Principi. | Opera molto aggradevole à gli elevati, e nobilissimi ingegni, | che si
compiacciono di materia di Stato; et anco molto uti- | le agli stessi Principi, ai Secretari,
Ambasciatori, et a tutti | quelli, che negli affari dei Principi s’impiegano | RACCOLTA
PER IL SIG(NOR) LODOVICO RICCI | DEDICATA AL SERENISS(IMO)
SIGNORE, IL SIG(NOR) | DON FRANCESCO GONZAGA | Principe di
Mantova et del Monferrato, et c.49 [printer’s device]50 | IN BOLOGNA Presso gli
Heredi di Giovanni Rossi M.DC.III. Con Licenza dei Superiori | Ad instanza della
nova Compagnia in Bologna. In 8º: †4 A-Z Aa-Gg6.
BL, 521.d.22 (see fig. 6).
In 1605 a third Tesoro politico appeared in octavo, printed in Turnoni. This volume claimed to
contain completely new material. The difference with the first Thesoro politico appears even more
striking: there is no theoretical introduction, or geopolitical frame; however, there are writings
on specific political situations involving states’ interests. Essays with a looser geographical and
anthropological perspective are also present, and the expression ‘ragion di stato’ is again used in
the title:
LA | TERZA | PARTE | DEL TESORO | POLITICO.51 | Nella quale si
contengono Relatio- | ni, Instruttioni, Trattati, et Di- | scorsi non meno dotti et
curio- | si, che utili, per conseguire la | perfetta cognitione della Ra- | gione di
Stato. | NON PRIMA DATI IN LUCE. | TURNONI, 1605. In 8º: π4 A-Z Aa-Pp (Kk2
and Kk3 are signed KK2 and KK3, Pp8r-v is blank).
1. [Anonymous], Ordine della casa del re cattolico, p. 1.52
2. [Anonymous], Perché si dica porta quella dei turchi e non corte come si chiamano quelle
dei principi cristiani, p. 12.
3. [Anonymous], Trattato del modo che si deve tenere nel difendere una fortezza,
p. 18.
4. [Anonymous], Trattato intorno al fabricare e conservare una fortezza, p. 27.
5. [Anonymous], Ragioni con le quali si dimostra come Ferrara sia della sede Apostolica,
p. 38.53
6. [Anonymous], Capitolo tra sua santità e don Cesare d’Este, p. 53.
7. [Anonymous], Discorso se un principe deve castigare i suoi magistrati quando errano e
fanno ingiustizie, p. 55.54
49 This is Francesco Gonzaga (1577-1616), imperial ambassador from 1602. In 1603 Gonzaga was carrying out his
mission in Florence and Rome.
50 Censimento nazionale delle edizioni italiane del XVI secolo (Edit16), Reference number U527. This is the printer’s
device used by the Società Tipografica Bolognese.
51 BL, C.68.a.12 and 521.c.22. These are duplicate copies with different title page (see figs 7 and 8).
52 This is part of a longer report, with the same title ‘L’ordine della casa del re cattolico, 1576’, in Evelyn Papers MS.,
fol. 79, ff. unnumbered. This piece comes between a report on Spain, ‘Relatione delle cose di Spagna, 1587’, and
a piece of general advice on how to behave as ambassador, ‘Instruttioni per qualunque ambasciadore alla corte
cattolica’.
53 Add. MS. 8304, ff. 185-96 ‘Ragioni dell’Apostolica Sede sopra la città e dominio di Ferrara’ is an incomplete
version with respect to the text in the Thesoro politico of 1605. Other texts on the dispute over Ferrara, in Add. MS.
8263, ff. 78-88v, 286-413v. It is interesting that the echo of this political tension reached the general public through
one of Giulio Cesare Croce’s compositions: Canto d’allegrezza per l’accordo fatto fra la santa Chiesa e Ferrara. Con
un dialogo fra la Pace e la Guerra per l’istessa occasione. Di Giulio Cesare Croce (Ferrara: Vittorio Baldini, 1598?).
54 Add. MS. 8305, ‘Discorso se un principe deve castigare, quando errano i suoi magistrate e fanno molte
ingiustitie, per belle che si rendono’, ff. 86-94.
16 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 6. 521.d.22.
17 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 7. C.68.a.12.
18 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 8. 521.c.22.
19 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
From the ‘Bibliographical Nightmare’, to a Critical Bibliography.
Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
8. [Anonymous], Scrittura nella quale si fanno alcune considerazioni per le quali il
sig(nor) duca d’Urbino dovrebbe esser condotto al servitio della serenissima republica di
Venetia, p. 69.
9. Relatione presentata al serenissimo arciduca Massimiliano, dal sign(or) marescial del
Campo, della levata dell’essercito cristiano, dall’assedio di Canisa, p. 77.55
10. Discorso di monsignor Pietro Cedolini, vescovo di Lesina. Fatto alla santità di nostro
signore Clemente Ottavo, per la difesa contra il turco, l’anno 1594, p. 85.56
11. [Anonymous], Discorso sopra la presente guerra d’Ungheria l’anno 1595, p. 102.
12. [Anonymous], Le cause perché il serenissimo Massimiliano non volse giurare secondo era
stabilito, p. 112.
13. [Anonymous], Discorso di quello che deve fare un cavaliere assediato in una terra,
p. 121.
14. Discorso del signor don Scipione Di Castro sopra l’andata dell’arciduca Mattia
d’Austria in Fiandra, p. 128.57
15. [Scipione Di Castro], Discorso del medesimo per l’andata del duca d’Alanson in
Fiandra, p. 137.
16. Discorso nel passaggio del re di Francia per Italia al suo regno di Francia. Di
mons(ignor) di Terracina a papa Gregorio XIII, p. 144.
17. [Anonymous], Discorso sopra le cose di Francia, et particolarmente intorno a quello che
seguisce per la venuta del duca di Nivers in Roma. Con alcune belle et giudiciose
considerationi circa la guerra tra il re cattolico et il re di Navarra, l’anno 1594, p. 154.
18. [Anonymous], Dichiaratione della volontà del re christianissimo circa la rissolutione
della guerra contra il re di Spagna. Fatta in Parigi alli 17 Genaro 1595, p. 167.58
19. [Anonymous], Persuasione a papa Clemente Ottavo. D’andare in Francia per
accomodare le guerre di quel regno l’anno 1592, p. 173.
20. [Anonymous], Discorso d’un gentiluomo italiano. Nel quale si dimostra come papa
Clemente VIII abbia usato ogni mezzo circa la benedittione del presente re di Francia
l’anno 1595, p. 186.
21. [Anonymous], Discorso sopra i motivi di Francia, p. 199.
22. Instruttione data dal Cardinal Farnese a N. N. mandato a Civitavecchia al sig(nor) don
Giovanni d’Austria quando passò di là con l’armata, p. 207.
23. [Anonymous], Bilancio dell’entrate ed uscite di tutto lo stato dell’eccellentissimo duca
d’Urbino, p. 221.
24. [Anonymous], Entrate della Chiesa. Con le provisioni lasciato che paga nostro signore
55 This is the Hungarian town of Nagykanizsa or Kanisza, which was taken by the Turks in 1601.
56 Add. MS. 35845 Hardwicke Papers, vol. CCCCXCVII, ‘Relation di Monsignor Pietro Codelini [Ced[o]lini]
vescovo di Liesena [Hvar, in Dalmatia], del presente stato dell’imperio turchesco et di molti altri particolari
degni di consideratione, fatta al santissimo e beatissimo padre et signor nostro papa Clemente VIII adi di 28
Gennaro 1594, per la diffesa contra il Turco’, ff. 135-56v. On Cedolini, see Vittorio Peri, ‘Cedolini, Pietro’, in
DBI, vol. xxiii (1979), pp. 311-12. Peri stresses Cedolini’s particular geopolitical concern for the Turkish
expansion in Europe and his call to join Catholic forces with the Czar of Moscow. Cedolini’s Relazione was
reprinted from the manuscript edition by Karlo Horvat, ‘Prilozi za hrvatsku povijest iz archiva rimskih’
(Contributions for the history of Croatia, from the Roman archives), Starine, xxxiv (1913), pp. 111-19.
57 Add. MS. 16493, ‘Discorso del Signor Scipion di Castro sopra l’andata del Principe Mattias [of Austria,
afterwards Emperor] in Fiandra, l’anno [1577]; con la Risposta d’incerto sopra il medesimo suggetto’, ff.
251-60.
58 Add. MS. 8588, ff. 123-24v ‘Dichiaratione della volontà del re Henrico sopra la rottura della Guerra contro
il Re di Spagna’.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
a cardinali, nuntii, alli Svizzeri et altri della sua guardia, al castellano et agli altri di
Castel Sant’Angelo; et a quelli della famiglia di sua santità, et prima, p. 265.59
25. [Anonymous], Il successo della morte delli Caraffi, p. 282.60
26. [Anonymous], Cerimonie che si fanno nella coronatione del re cristianissimo,
p. 292.
27. Copia della lettera che scrive il gran duca di Toscana (Ferdinando) al papa, per la
renuntia del capello, p. 299.
28. [Anonymous], Cerimonie osservate nella resignatione del cardinalato del gran duca,
p. 303.
29. [Anonymous], Oratione degli ambasciatori dei Grisoni, p. 306.
30. [Anonymous], Onde derivi il nome d’Assasino et quali siano stati i popoli Assassini,
p. 310.
31. [Anonymous], Discorso intorno alla guerra di Fiandra, p. 320.
32. [Anonymous], Discorso dell’Aurea Chersoneso, oggidì regno di Malacca, p. 332.
33. [Anonymous], Risposte del re cristianissimo, date alli signori della corte del parlamento
sopra la restitutione della Compagnia di Giesù in Francia, p. 340.
34. [Anonymous], Discorso dei brindesi, delle varie bevande, che s’usano al mondo, et d’altre
materie, che si usano per rallegrare i spiriti et conciliare il sonno, p. 356.61
35. [Anonymous], Donde sia derivato il nome di cingaro, p. 399.62
36. [Anonymous], Casa del duca di Baviera.
37. [Anonymous], Discorso nel quale si dimostra con ben fondate ragioni come l’armi di
Spagna doverebbero rivolgersi alla impresa d’Africa, p. 412.
38. [Anonymous], Discorso del Peloponneso, oggidì detta Morea, ove si mostra che anche le
provincie hanno le loro mutationi, et periodi come hanno tutte le cose, p. 441.
39. [Anonymous], Trattato dei tartari precopensi, dei chersonesi et dei bosfori, p. 458.
40. [Anonymous], Dell’inondatione di Roma et sui rimedii, p. 481.
41. [Anonymous], Dell’Africa et del suo ismo, p. 504.
42. [Anonymous], Del Nilo, della sua origine et della fertilità dell’Egitto, p. 517.
43. [Anonymous], Narratione dello stato della regina di Scotia et del principe suo figliuolo
con la prigionia d’essa regina, p. 522.
44. [Anonymous], Narratione dello stato della republica di Genova, nella quale si tratta del
governo et sito suo, grandezza et ricchezze, entrata, numero di persone, et delle principali
sue casate, col numero dei luoghi et stati suoi, et col modo et ordine che essi tengono
59 Add. MS. 48121 (Yelverton MS. 136), ‘Entrate della Chiesa co le provigioni [etc.]’, ff. 79-89v.
60 Add. MS 8304, ‘Relatione della morte del signor cardinale Carrafa, del duca di Palliano suo fratello, del conte
D’Alife e di don Leonardo Cardines, fatti morire da Pio IV dell’anno 1562’, ff. 87-92, seventeenth-century
hand. Another copy in Add. MS. 8391, ff. 225-30. For Cardinal Carlo Carafa and his brother Giovanni Carafa,
Duke of Paliano, see Adriano Prosperi, ‘Carafa, Carlo’, in DBI, vol. xix (1976), pp. 497-509, and Marina
Raffaeli Cammarota, ‘Carafa, Giovanni’, ibid., pp. 556-59.
61 Add. MS. 8305, ff. 48-74, ‘Discorso dell’uso del vino de’ brindesi e di varie bevande, polvere et altre materie
per rallegrare i spiriti e conciliare il sonno’. Late seventeenth century.
62 Lorenzo Palmireno considered it essential for a courtier to be able to discuss the subject of gypsies, El
estudioso cortesano agora en esta ultima impression añadido el proverbiador, o cartapacio contienense, el estudioso
pobre por bovedad, o grosseria; en conversacion; combidado; enfermo; caminante; discreto en sus persecuciones
(Halcalà de Henares: Juan Iñiguez de Lequerica, 1587), ff. 35v-36r: ‘Que son gitanos? Responde: Esta ruyn
gente, año 1517 començo en Alemaña, a donde les llama Tartaros, o Gentiles: en Italia Cianos. Fingen que
salieron de Egipto menor que tienen su peregrinacion por penitencia: y para provar esto muestran cartas del
rey de Polonia. Pero mienten porque su vida no es de penitents sino de perros y ladrones.’ I am grateful to
Federico Faloppa for bringing this text to my attention.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
nell’officio, et magistrato di San Giorgio, p. 536.
45. [Anonymous], Narratione della controversia che hanno le Terre Anseatiche con la
regina d’Inghilterra, p. 549.
46. [Anonymous], Da quali paesi siano venuti i grani, che in questi ultimi anni di carestia
hanno sovvenuto l’Italia, p. 571.
47. [Anonymous], Lega Anseatica ciò che sia, p. 571.
48. [Anonymous], Terre Osterlinghe quali sieno, p. 571.
49. [Anonymous], Istoria particolare della Lega Anseatica, p. 580.63
50. [Anonymous], Discorso di quelli, che hanno procurato d’essere creati protettori della
Lega Anseatica, et d’altre cose pertinenti alla medesima Lega, p. 599.64
Dennis Rhodes’s researches show that Torrona, Tornona, Tortona, Tournon and Tours as
imprints are all false:
Ugo Rozzo65 shows conclusively that this text was never printed at Tortona, at least
before 1601. The fact that the fictitious Torrona was again turned in 1592 into the
equally fictitious Tornona is probably the origin of the next geographical fiction
which we find in the year 1605, when the third Tesoro politico is said to have been
printed ‘Turnoni’. The British Library translates this literally as ‘Tournon’, the
town on the Rhône in France where indeed there was a fair amount of printing in
the early seventeenth century, but nothing else in Italian, and no other book faintly
resembling the Tesoro politico in its typographical layout. Neither could the
Tournon printers Claude Michel and Thomas Soubon have been responsible for
the Tesoro politico of 1605; so that whereas the British Library indexes it under
‘Tournon, printer unknown’, I prefer to conclude that ‘Turnoni’ is a false
imprint.66
From the analysis of the woodcut fleurons and initial letters, Rhodes argues, opening another
interesting and unexpected scenario, that this book seems to contain Venetian material. Although
this remains a hypothesis, it is worth noting the particular interest of this Tesoro politico for east
Europe and the Mediterranean.
Thus, by 1605, the Thesoro politico had become a fashionable book, a marketing tactic
with a double scope. The all-comprehensive title, including the spicy catchphrase of the
time, ragion di stato, would attract readers and, at the same time, would leave printers’ hands
free to include in the book any texts they believed were relevant for the political situation of
Europe, or just interesting.
Printers had to hide behind a false place of publication because printing texts without the
permission of the bishop or the name of the author was severely condemned by the tenth
rule of the Index of Forbidden Books.67 Moreover, cardinals of the Congregation for the
Index were summoned in February and March 1602 to discuss this unlawful dissemination;
and the Tesoro politico was their main target. After the three parts were classified donec
63 See Add. MS. 8298, ff. 2-14v, ‘Historia della Lega Hanseatica’.
64 Ibid., ‘Si tratta di quelli che hanno ambito di essere protettori della Lega Hanseatica’, ff. 15-20v.
65 See Ugo Rozzo (ed.), Stampa e cultura a Tortona nel XVI e XVII secolo: mostra della tipografia tortonese
(Tortona, 1972).
66 I quote from Dennis Rhodes’s unpublished notes.
67 The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, transl. and introd. by Reverend Henry Joseph Schroeder,
2nd edn (Rockford, 1978), pp. 276ff.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
expurgatur (not to be published until expurgated) on 16 December 1605, one month later the
Master of the Sacred Palace referred to the Congregation that the Pope himself was
determined to implement severe penalties for those who would infringe the law and
continue to disseminate texts without regular permission.68
To return to the difference between the three Tesori politici, it is worth stressing that the texts
considered to be particularly annoying by cardinals of the Index of Forbidden books were all
contained in the first Thesoro politico, and included the relazione from Rome, the discorso on the
Conclave, the istruzione to the nuncio in Venice, and the instruction to Cardinal Montalto.69
This censorship may have prevented further circulation of the Tesori politici among Italian
booksellers, but it did not stop its success abroad. Between 1608 and 1618 the Tesori politici were
translated into Latin and published six times in Frankfurt and Cologne, and translated into
French and published twice. In 1610 two very similar copies appeared:
THESORO | POLITICO, | IN CUI SI CONTENGONO | Relationi,
Instruttioni, Trattati, et varii | Discorsi, pertinenti alla perfetta | intelligenza della |
RAGION DI STATO, | ET ALL’INTERA COGNITIONE | degli Interessi, et
dipendenze dei più gran Pren- | cipi del Mondo. Raccolto per COMIN VENTURA
da essemplari dell’ Acad(emia) | Ital(iana) di Colonia | Con gratia et privilegio
Sac(ra) Ces(area) Maest(à) | Stampato della città di Francfort per le spese del Ioan.
| Theobaldo Bel-Tempo | M.DC.X. [engraved title-page border signed G epper
sc: Anno 1609]. In 4º: (*)4 A-Z Aa-Zz Aaa-Nnn4 (Ll2 is signed Ll3
in error).
BL, 521.d.15 (see fig. 9).
The book contains the material of the first Thesoro politico, in Italian with a parallel Latin text.
It is dedicated by the printer to ‘Ludovico Landgravio Hassiae’. In the colophon one reads
‘Impressum Francofurti ad Moe- | num, impensis Ioan. Theobaldi Schönvvetteri,70| Typis vero
Matthiæ Beckeri.71 M.DC.X | [typographical ornament]’.
68 Documents on the banning of the Thesoro politico were published by Baldini, ‘Origini e fortuna’,
pp. 155-75. Using these documents, and some others that I found in the Archive of the Holy Office, and in
the Biblioteca dell’Archiginnasio in Bologna, I have proposed a different interpretation in: ‘The Ambiguities
of Censorship: Tesori politici (1589-1605) and the Index of Forbidden Books’, Bruniana e Campanelliana, ii
(2007), pp. 559-72.
69 See Archivio della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede, Fondo indice dei libri proibiti, ‘Diarii’, I, 1, p. 152;
and Bologna, Biblioteca Comunale dell’Archiginnasio, MS cod. B 1863, lettera 33.
70 Johann Theobald Schönwetter (Mainz c. 1575 – Frankfurt am Main 1657), became a citizen of Frankfurt in
1598 and set up as an independent printer in the same year. In 1599 he printed Consultationes Saxonicae, a
work about the criminal laws of August of Saxony, which the Saxon electoral court and the law faculty at
Leipzig University tried to have banned. In 1604 Schönwetter was imprisoned for debt. By 1619 he was back
on his feet, as he received an imperial privilege to print a weekly newspaper. For further details, see Sabine
Hoch, ‘Schönwetter, Johann Theobald’, in Frankfurter Biographie: persongeschichtliches Lexikon, ed. Wolfgang
Klötzer, Veröffentlichungen des Frankfurter Historischen Kommission, xix (Frankfurt am Main, 1994-1996),
pp. 326-7.
71 Matthäus Becker, also known as Beck, flourished in Frankurt am Main 1598 - c. 1612 (in the name of his
widow until 1614). Born in Magdeburg (no date given), citizen of Frankfurt from October 1573, he was
banished from Frankfurt in 1602 for committing adultery, and the press was carried on by a son of the same
name. The elder Becker tried to return to Frankfurt the following year but was forbidden and probably died
before 1606. Presumably the son continued to run the press. See Josef Benzing, Die Buchdrucker des 16. und
17. Jahrhunderts im deutschen Sprachgebiet (Wiesbaden, 1963), ad nomen.
23 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 9. 521.d.15.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
The second copy is also in quarto, has a Latin title, and bears the name of the translator,
Philippus Honorius.72 Here again it is important to point out the use of another catchphrase,
which in seventeenth-century political literature is strictly related to the theme of ‘reason
of state’:
PRAXIS | PRUDENTIÆ POLITICÆ | hoc est, | SELECTIORES TRACTATUS
MONITA | Acta, Relationes, et Discursus plurivariam et exquisitam Regiæ pru- |
dentiæ, et Principum, Rerumpublicarum, Gentiumque documenta |
suppeditantes universis prudentiæ civilis et politicarum rerum stu- | diosis, quive
domi militiæque cum gloriæ et honoris fama versari, et | in Magnatum
Procerumque Aulis dignitatem, et in Legationi- | bus authoritatem obtueri
cupiunt, perutiles et | omnino necessarii. | AUTHORIBUS PARTIM PRÆCLARIS ET
PRU- | dentissimis summorum Monarcharum, et Rerumpublicarum |
Oratoribus, partim aliis doctissimis et rerum agenda-| rum expertissimis viris. |
OPUS COLLECTUM EX ITALICIS CUM PUBLICA- | tis tum manuscriptis variis
variorum ambassatorum observationibus et | discursibus accurato cum delectu
concinnatum et in gratiam Politi- | cæ sapientiæ, et linguarum studiosorum nunc
Latine | simul et Italice editum | A PHILIPPO HONORIO I.V | Cum gratia et
.D.
privilegio Sacra Caes(area) Maiest(ate) | Operis argumenta versa pagina indicabit;
cum Indice et Elen- | cho duplici, Italico et Latino | FRANCOFURTI,
IMPENSIS IOAN. THEOBALDI | Schönvvetteri, Typis Matthiæ Beckeri M.
DC. X. [engraved title page; the signature is G epper sc: Anno 1609].
In 4º: )**(4 A-Z Aa-Zz Aaa-Zzz Aaaa-Hhhh3v.
BL, C.74.b.14(1) (see fig. 10).
The volume has the same title-page dedication, but also contains some texts from the second
Tesoro politico, in Italian with Latin parallel text, and with the title changed, using the
catchphrase ‘ragioni di stato’:
THESORO | POLITICO | LA PARTE SECONDA | NELLA QUALE SI
CONTENGO- | no relationi, instruttioni, trattati, et discorsi non | meno dotti et
curiosi che utili, per conseguire, | la perfetta cognitione delle ragio- | ni di stato.
| Non prima dato in luce con indice | [printer’s device] | FRANCOFURTI, Apud
Ioannem VVolffium, Impensis | IOANNIS THEOBALDI SCHÖN- | WETTERI |
Anno M.DC.XI. In 4º: †4 (†r-v is blank) A-Z Aa-Oo2v.
BL, C.74.b.14(2) (see fig. 11).
I would like to point out the almost complete similarity between the title of this part of the
volume and the third Tesoro politico (1605), as well as the new name that is introduced here:
Ioannem VVolffium. This copy contains only a small part of the texts contained in the second
Tesoro politico (1601), plus one Latin translation from the third Tesoro politico (1605),73 and some
texts which did not appear in previous Tesori politici. These are:
A short commentary on Turkey, including religion and succession of emperors,
72 Alias Giulio Belli (1570–1650), a political writer from Istria, who was to become secretary to the Hapsburg
court, see Irene Mamczarz, ‘Belli, Giulio’, in DBI, vol. vii (1965), pp. 657-60.
73 Cerimoniae quibus Magnus Hetruriae Dux Cardinalatus se abdicavit, p. 290.
25 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 10. C.74.b.14(1).
26 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 11. C.74.b.14(2).
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Imperi turcici descriptio, p. 215; a new description of China, Iacobi Pantogia de
amplissimo Sinarum regno,74 p. 221; comments on war and emperorship, Praecepta
et exempla ad rem militarem et imperatoriam artem pertinentia, p. 254; a small treatise
on the different noble titles, Tractatus de distinctis nobilitatis gradibus et dignitatum
differentiis, p. 267; a small treatise on the government of France, with the
description of royal authority, social classes, etc. Politici status in Galliae regno
descriptio, p. 271; and a report from Belgium, Politiae in Belgio sub Burgundica sive
Austriaca familia, p. 282.
In 1611 the third part appeared in Latin, in Cologne, with the name of the translator, Gaspar
Ens:
THESAURI | POLITICI Pars Tertia: RELATIONES, IN- | STRUCTIONES,
DISSERTA- | TIONES, ALIOSQUE DE REBUS AD | PLENAM IMPERIORUM,
REGNORUM, PROVINCIARUM, omniumque quae ab | iis dependent cognitionem
pertinen- | tibus TRACTATUS com-| plectens: | Additis etiam quibusdam aliunde
sumtis. | EX ITALICA IN LATINAM LINGUAM | traducta, opera et studio |
GASPARIS ENS L.75 | [printer’s device] | COLONIÆ | Apud Gherardum
Grevenbruch76 | Anno M. D. C. XI | Cum gratia et privi. Sacr. Cæsar Maiest. In
8º: (:)4 A-Z Aa-Nn3 (G3 is signed Gc, Aa3 is signed Aaz, Nn2 is signed 2N in error).
BL, 521.c.23 (see fig. 12).
but instead of being a translation of the third Tesoro politico, it contained a selection of writings
from the three Tesori politici.
Another copy appeared in Italian one year later:
DEL | TESORO | POLITICO | LA PARTE TERZA | E QUARTA. | NELLA QUALI
SI CON- | tengono Relationi, Instruttioni, Trat- | tati, et Discorsi non meno dotti, et cu-
| riosi, che utili, per conseguire la per- | fetta cognitione della Ra- | gione di Stato. CON
INDICE | HELENOPOLI IMPENSIS | Ioannis Theobaldi Schön- | vvetteri | M. DC.
XII [engraved title-page border].77 In 4º: (*)4 A-Z Aa-Zz (Ll2 is signed Ll3 in error)
Aaa-Nnn.
BL, 521.d.16 (see fig. 13).
74 Contughi’s out-of-date report on China was replaced by a Latin translation of the descriptive part of Pantoja’s
letter to Father Luis de Guzmán, Archbishop of Toledo. The Spanish Jesuit Diego de Pantoja (1571-1618) was sent
to China in 1599 to help Matteo Ricci with his second expedition to Beijing. The letter to Guzmán was considered
the manifesto of the Jesuits’ politics of adaptation in China. The first printed edition is in Relacion annual de las
cosas que han hecho los padres de la Compañia de Iesus en la India Oriental y Iapon, ed. Antonio Colaço (Valladolid:
Luis Sanchez, 1604), pp. 598-682, followed by translations into French, German and English. A modern
assessment of Pantoja’s life and deeds is Zhang Kai, Diego de Pantoja y China. Un estudio sobre la ‘Política de
Adaptación’ de la Compañia de Jesús, transl. into Spanish Tang Baisheng and Kang Xialonin (Bijing, 1997).
75 Gaspar Ens (c. 1570 – after 1636) was from Lorch, in Württemberg. He travelled extensively, lived in Cologne
for twenty-five years and worked as a librarian. After that period he moved and nothing more is known about
him. He wrote many books and translations about completely different subjects, see Jean François and Louis
Gabriel Michaud (ed.), Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne, 43 vols (Paris, 1843-65), xii (1855), pp. 487-
88.
76 Gherard Grevenbruch, active 1583-1633 in Cologne as a bookseller, publisher and printer; had his printing
shop in the Bechergasse in Cologne but also sold books in Frankfurt am Main; known to be still alive in 1636.
For further details, see Benzing, Die Buchdrucker des 16. und 17, ad nomen.
77 According to Rhodes’s notes, this false address corresponds to Frankfurt-am-Main, and the anonymous
printer should be Matthias Becker.
28 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Fig. 12. 521.c.23
29 eBLJ 2008, Article 1
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 13. 521.d.16.
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It contains in order all the writings of the third plus a certain number of those from the second
Tesoro politico.
Two further translations, in French, appeared in 1608 and 1611. The title of the 1611 French
translation is:
TRESOR | POLITIQUE: | CONTENANT LES RELATIONS, | INSTRUCTIONS,
TRAICTEZ, ET DIVERS | discours appartenans à la parfaicte intelligence de la |
RAISON D’ESTAT, et de tres-grande importance à | l’entiere cognoissance des
interests, pretensions, | desseins et revenus des plus grands Princes | et Seigneurs
du Monde. | Revue et augmenté en ceste seconde edition de deux discours, l’un sur | la
Milice des Turcs, ordre et discipline d’icelle: l’autre sur les loix | et costumes de ceux
d’Islande. | Avec deux Tables, l’un des chapitres, et l’autre de ce qui est tracté |
particulierement pour chacune Province. | DIVISÉ EN TROIS LIVRES. | Dedié à
Monseigneur le Prince | [printer’s device] | A PARIS, | Chez ROLIN THIERRY,78 ruë
Sainct Iacques, | au Soleil d’Or. M.DC.XI. | AVEC PRIVILEGE DU ROY. In 4º: â4
ê44 î4 A-Z (M3 signed M2 in error) Aa-Zz Aaa-ZZz AAAa-ZZZz AAAaa-ZZZzz
(KKKkk3 signed KKKKk3 in error) AAAAaa2 (AAAAaa2r-v is blank).
BL, C.80.a.6 (see fig. 14).
The translator is Nicolas du Fossé,79 librarian to Henry of Bourbon Prince de Condé, to whom
the book is dedicated. This volume includes the material of the first Thesoro politico (1589),
following, in part, the order of the first edition, but lacking a few texts: Relazione delle divisioni di
Francia (1589), Istruzione al Cardinal San Sisto del sig. Fabio Albergati, Discorso sopra l’autorità
del papa, and Discorso come l’imperio dipenda dai papi. It also includes the second and the third
Tesori politici, plus five texts that were not in previous Tesori politici. A text on the Turkish militia,
Discours sur la milice des Turcs, ordre et discipline d’icelle, par lequel on pourra facilement remarquer
comme ceste nation de tres-petit commencemens, est parvenuë presqu’en un instant à la jouyssiance d’un
si puissant et redoubtable Empire, one on the people of Iceland, Discours d’Islande, et quand
premierement cest Isle a esté cogneüe, one is supposed to be the copy of a letter written by one
ambassador Jacques Fava, describing his encounter with the Persian king, Copie d’une letter escrite
par le magnifique Iaques Fava à Spahan de Perse, le vingtiesme de Iulliet, mil cinq cens nonante neuf.80
At the end, two interesting texts on the Spanish Inquisition: De l’origine et institution de
l’Inquisition espagnole. Et la forme de proceder en Espagne contre les Heretiques et Apostats; Ceremonie
notable pour l’execution qui se fait en Espagne contre les Heretiques.
Tommaso Bozza also mentions another Latin translation with an Italian parallel text,
published in Frankfurt in 1617-18, in quarto, which I have not seen.81
Thus, this article confirms the Tesoro politico as a well known publication of the late sixteenth
and early seventeenth century, both a collector of, and a vehicle for the dissemination of,
documents such as instructions, discourses, treatises and relazioni, which were a fundamental
feature of the political ideas between the two centuries, available, before the printing of the Tesoro
politico, mostly in manuscript copies. So far, Britain had seemed not to be involved in this
dissemination. However, the manuscript translation into English of the Tesoro Politico (1601) and
some other findings I am to show, reveal the deep interest in this material also among British
readers.
78 Bookseller and printer from 1585 to 1623. He was printer of the Catholic Sainte Union between 1589 and
1592; he was the nephew and successor of Henry Thierry. See Jean-Dominique Mellot and Élisabeth Queval
(ed.), Répertoire d’imprimeurs/libraires XVIe-XVIIIe siècles (Paris, 1997).
79 Nicolas du Fossé (fl. 1586-1629?), librarian, printer; from 1607 he was associated with his brother-in-law
Rolin Thierry and Pierre II Chevalier.
80 The Italian title is Copia della lettera scritta dal mag. Giacomo Faua in Spahan di Persia, a di 20 luglio 1599, the
only copy of which I am aware is in the Biblioteca civica Queriniana (Brescia). The author was a Venetian
merchant, active in the second part of the sixteenth century, according to the British Library Catalogue of
Books Published Until 1975, and the city should be identified with Isfahan.
81 Bozza, p. 70.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
Fig. 14. C.80.a.6.
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Tesori politici in the British Library, and Elsewhere in Britain
The most striking evidence is the collection of manuscript translations of Scipione di Castro’s
texts in one volume, now in the Bodleian Library.82 Although it is not possible to establish the
name of the translator, the copy is in a seventeenth-century hand. At the end of the treatise on
the best prince, in a different hand, is written: ‘Much wants in the Italian. This Don Scipio di
Castro was a most excellent man.’
In London, John Florio listed the three Tesori politici among his sources for the second edition
of his Queen Anne’s New World of Words (London: Bradwood, 1611).
As far as British readership is concerned, the Giorgio Greco 1602 copy in the National
Library of Scotland, Tyningham House collection, was owned by Thomas Hamilton (1563-
1637), advocate, politician and judge, influential secretary to James VI, who gave him the
nickname of ‘Tam o’ the Cowgate’. Hamilton signed the copy on the first page with the title
MAGISTER which he used till 1603. He then had a new title with which he started signing his
books. On the flyleaf we find his ex libris with the final entire title he was given in 1626: THE
RIGHT HON.BLE THOMAS - EARL OF HADINTON-. The presence of the specific title
in the first signature, tells us that the book was bought before 1603, which reveals a certain speed
in the acquisition.
More research into the acquisition of the Tesoro politico in the National Library of Scotland
shows that copies of the book were not bought by the Advocates Library,83 the original name of
what was to become the National Library of Scotland, until 17 September 1683, when the
auction of a private library took place in Utrecht.84 In the catalogue of that auction, Tesoro politico
appears under the entry ‘Libri miscellanei in 8°’; there is no further description of the item,
except that this consisted of three volumes and that it cost the Advocates Library 15 shillings. It
seems rather probable that the three volumes bought at Utrecht formed the three different parts
which, over sixteen years, comprised the Tesoro politico. Indeed, the price paid for those three
volumes seems very cheap for a book which had been so popular almost a century before and
could still be found in many libraries of the period. The reason is not difficult to explain. First
of all, I believe that it became very easy to find this text on the market. Moreover, by the end of
the seventeenth century, readers could access more complete, updated, and refined books with
the description of the various countries of Europe, their political interests and spheres of
influence.
The original and provocative nature of the Tesoro politico as a publication of geopolitical texts
and top secret material, which revealed the real political interest of princes and cardinals across
Europe, won it considerable success into the second decade of the seventeenth century, and
ensured that it would long be considered essential reading.
82 Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Rawlinson C. 293, ff. 1-191, ‘Don Scipio Di Castro’ is written on the back of
v r r v
the volume; ff. 2 -3 , ‘Out of a sermon made at Palis Cross’; ff. 5 -27 , ‘A relation and instruction
r r
concerning of the state of Millan’; ff. 28 -67 , ‘The instruction wherein is en[?] of those parties which frame
v r
a prince worthy of soveranity… [etc.]; in different colour is added: ‘by Don Scipio di Castro’, ff. 68 -122 ,
‘Advertiments to the Lord Marc’Antonio Colonna when he went viceroy into Sicily written by Don Scipio
r r
di Castro’; ff. 123 -38 , ‘General Remembrances for the ministers of Princes […] and their observations […]
r r
for secretaries’; ff. 139 -73 , ‘Instruction to the right honourable Lord Peter Caietan when he went into
r r
Flanders and the prince of Parma’; ff. 174 -83 , ‘A discourse of don Scipio di Castro about the Duke Mathias
r r
going to Flanders’; ff. 184 -90 , ‘A discourse of Don Scipio concerning the Duke d’Alencons going into
Flanders’. See Helmut G. Koenigsberger, The Practice of Empire (Ithaca and New York, 1969), pp. 201-5, for
comments on this treatise and its English translation.
83 On the strategy leading to the formation of the Advocates Library, see Brian Hillyard, ‘The Formation of the
Library. 1682-1728’, in Patrick Cadell and Ann Matheson (eds), For the Encouragement of Learning. Scotland’s
National Library 1689-1989 (Edinburgh, 1989), pp. 23-66. I am grateful to Brian Hillyard for his assistance
in my research on the Tesoro politico in the National Library of Scotland.
84 See Catalogus librorum viri D. Cornelii van der Vliet, quorum auctio habebitur 17 Septembris 1683 ([Utrecht]: ex
oficina Francisci Holena, Trajecti ad Rhenum, Bibliopolae, 1683). A handwritten note on the title page reads:
‘The books drawn out to ye margin were bought at those respective price by Livingstone for ye honourable
facultas of Advocates and sent to Leith in Captain Frazer’s ship. Oct. 1683.’
33 eBLJ 2008, Article 1