Volume lettered "Francesco Contarini-Mantova, Firenze, 1588-9-Padova, Verona"

PRO 30/25/97

1595

Volume lettered "Francesco Contarini-Mantova, Firenze, 1588-9-Padova, Verona"

On the fly-leaf of (b) under the words "Contarini-1588-Fiorenza", Mr Rawdon Brown has the following note:- "I think it not improbable that these notes in the handwriting of Francesco Contarini may have been a transcript made by him from the Portfolio ofTommaso Contarini, for the fact is that he, Francesco, did not get to Florence in an ambassadorial capacity until the year 1589 (see Andrea Morosini, Vol. 4, p. 60 and p. 74), on the marriage of Ferdinand de Medici, and independently of the mark 1588, ut supra, it is seen throughout the manuscript, and especially at p. 467 [p. 24], that when its original was penned, Ferdinand was yet unmarried, and speculations afloat of his taking to wife either the daughter of the Archduke Ferdinand or Christine of Lorraine. The probable reason for Francesco Contarini's chusing (sic) to copy such notes may be explained by a wish to render himself conversant with the history of a Court, whither he found himself bound on a mission extraordinary, and he doubtless filled the following sheets at the close of the year 1588, or beginning of 1589, ere leaving for Florence."

Not Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description