Transcripts of French Diplomatic Correspondence

Transcripts, late 17th century, of French diplomatic correspondence relating to Italy, 1605-49, consisting of:  

• 'Lettres et mmoires concernant l'Italie', 1605-34, mainly the correspondence of Philippe de Bthune and Charles Crquy, 1627-34
• 'Dpches importantes sur la Paix d'Italie', 1643-4, royal letters mainly to Franois Fontenay-Mareil, Marquis de Fontenay, and Cardinal Alessandro Bichi
• 'Lettres de Monsr. Gueffier charg des affaires du Roy Rome crites Sa Majest', mainly addressed to H.A. Lomnie de Brienne, 1645-9

Philippe de Bthune, Comte de Selles, was French ambassador in Rome. Charles I de Blanchefort de Crquy, Duc de Lesdiguires (? 1578-1638) was successively commander of the French armies of Piedmont, Savoy and Italy, and French ambassador to Urban VIII and to Venice. Franois Du Val Fontenay-Mareil, Marquis de Fontenay (? 1594-1665). Cardinal Alessandro Bichi (1596-1657). Henri Auguste Lomnie de Brienne (1594-1666) was French Secretary of State.

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/specialcollections).

The transcripts were bought at Sotheby's in 1919.

Collection level description created by Emily Tarrant, Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts.

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. II, nos. 467167-72.