Exploring the Renaissance Mind
Read More![Written in the eighth century, Bede’s Ecclesiastical history of the English people tells the story of England’s conversion to Christianity within the context of its political history, beginning with the invasion of the Romans under Julius Caesar in 55 BC. To a statesman, this enormously influential book must have been invaluable.
<br><br>
<b>Author: </b>Bede the Venerable<br>
<b>Title: </b><i>Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum </i> [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550) <br>
<b>Shelfmark: </b> X.17.1<a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21420911500003606S"> (catalogue record)</a><br>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-CnzjpBn/0/c1444b09/M/X-017-001-011-M.jpg)
Written in the eighth century, Bede’s Ecclesiastical history of the English people tells the story of England’s conversion to Christianity within the context of its political history, beginning with the invasion of the Romans under Julius Caesar in 55 BC. To a statesman, this enormously influential book must have been invaluable.
Author: Bede the Venerable
Title: Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550)
Shelfmark: X.17.1 (catalogue record)
![Thomas Smith was twice named ambassador to France. His second embassy (1571-2) was the most successful, concluding with the signing of the Treaty of Blois between Elizabeth I of England and Catherine de Medici of France that allied their two countries against Spain. The presence of Emili’s history of French kings in Smith’s library indicates that Smith sought current humanist literature as well as classical texts. De rebus gestis Francorum is considered to be the first historiographical work of the modern era where the author’s discourse is critical and factual. Extensively annotated, the volume contains fascinating portraits of monarchs alongside important historical and religious figures from across Europe.<br><br>
Here are depicted key protagonists involved in the signing of the Treaty of Cambrai. This treaty ended one phase of the wars between Francis I of France and the Holy Roman emperor Charles V in 1529. Also called Paix des Dames or Peace of the Ladies, this treaty was negotiated by Margaret of Austria, aunt of Charles and regent of the Netherlands and Louise of Savoy, mother of Francis, who had acted as regent during his absences. Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy's portraits are both drawn here. Below are the ones of Pope Clemens VII and Francis I of France. Both men met in Marseille in 1533 for the marriage of Francis’ son, Henry, Duke of Orleans, to the Pope’s niece, Catherine de’ Medici. Smith’s doodling symbolises their marriage with the inclusion of a ring beneath their two names.
<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Paolo Emili<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> De rebus gestis Francorum </i> [History of French kings]
(Paris, 1550)<br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.3.19 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21413379630003606"> (catalogue record)</a><br>
<b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-G-00003-00019">Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-BXvf69k/0/4befd92a/Ti/G-003-019-010-Ti.jpg)
![Truce of Nice, 1538
<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Paolo Emili<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> De rebus gestis Francorum </i> [History of French kings]
(Paris, 1550)<br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.3.19 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21413379630003606"> (catalogue record)</a><br>
<b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-G-00003-00019">Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-qdqDPHT/0/61e0c71d/Ti/G-003-019-012-Ti.jpg)
![Henri VIII<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Paolo Emili<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> De rebus gestis Francorum </i> [History of French kings]
(Paris, 1550)<br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.3.19 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21413379630003606"> (catalogue record)</a><br>
<b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-G-00003-00019">Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-DKBpqpV/0/8c140cdb/Ti/G-003-019-014-Ti.jpg)
![Joan of France, Duchess of Berry, whose marriage to King Louis XII of France was annulled hence "uxor repudiata" (repudiated wife)
<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Paolo Emili<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> De rebus gestis Francorum </i> [History of French kings]
(Paris, 1550)<br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.3.19 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21413379630003606"> (catalogue record)</a><br>
<b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-G-00003-00019">Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-qZWB27C/0/f0c60a56/Ti/G-003-019-009-Ti.jpg)
![Written in the eighth century, Bede’s Ecclesiastical history of the English people tells the story of England’s conversion to Christianity within the context of its political history, beginning with the invasion of the Romans under Julius Caesar in 55 BC. To a statesman, this enormously influential book must have been invaluable.
<br><br>
<b>Author: </b>Bede the Venerable<br>
<b>Title: </b><i>Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum </i> [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550) <br>
<b>Shelfmark: </b> X.17.1<a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21420911500003606S"> (catalogue record)</a><br>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-CnzjpBn/0/c1444b09/Ti/X-017-001-011-Ti.jpg)
![This copy offers other fine examples of Smith’s talent as an annotator: the margin contains sketches of the cities of London and Rochester that match the passages underlined in the text.
<br><br>
<b>Author: </b>Bede the Venerable<br>
<b>Title: </b><i>Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum </i> [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550) <br>
<b>Shelfmark: </b> X.17.1<a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21420911500003606S"> (catalogue record)</a><br>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-C5X6jQ6/0/d00a52c9/Ti/X-017-001-013-Ti.jpg)
![Various illustrations have been inserted in the volume such as this woodcut of a monument with its title reading 'Tumulus clarissimi viri, D. Thomae Smithi. Lgum doctoris. Equitis Aurati. Et primarij duorum serenissimorum principum, Regis Edouardi Sexti, & Reginae Elizabetae secretarij'. This woodcut was taken from a copy of Gabriel Harvey, <i>Smithus; vel Musarum lachrymae</i>, (London, 1578)
<br><br>
<b>Author: </b>Bede the Venerable<br>
<b>Title: </b><i>Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum </i> [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550) <br>
<b>Shelfmark: </b> X.17.1<a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21420911500003606S"> (catalogue record)</a><br>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-TcDrLZz/0/9348069e/Ti/X-017-001-009-Ti.jpg)
![Another woodcut, a portait of Thomas Smith, from Gabriel Harvey, <i>Smithus; vel Musarum lachrymae</i>, (London, 1578)
<br><br>
<b>Author: </b>Bede the Venerable<br>
<b>Title: </b><i>Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum </i> [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550) <br>
<b>Shelfmark: </b> X.17.1<a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21420911500003606S"> (catalogue record)</a><br>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-BCCKdpH/0/2d27adb8/Ti/X-017-001-017-Ti.jpg)
![Engraved inserted portrait of Thomas Smith for the <i>Universal Magazine</i>.
<br><br>
<b>Author: </b>Bede the Venerable<br>
<b>Title: </b><i>Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum </i> [Ecclesiastical history of the English people] (Antwerp, 1550) <br>
<b>Shelfmark: </b> X.17.1<a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21420911500003606S"> (catalogue record)</a><br>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-LxmRvBr/0/8417293e/Ti/X-017-001-016-Ti.jpg)
![Reading to equip himself as a modern political advisor, Smith turned frequently to the great Roman authors, from whose works he drew many of his political ideas. In this edition, by Erasmus, of the accounts of the Roman emperors, Smith demonstrates the practice of active reading. Throughout the book we see key words hand-written in the margins, drawings of landscapes and cities, and imagined portraits of characters mentioned in the text. Among the numerous male figures, only three portraits of women are visible in the margins: they are all wives of great men, and two of them Smith has labelled adulterers.
<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Desiderius Erasmus<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> Ex recognitione Des. Erasmi Roterodami, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Dion Cassius Nicaeus … [et alii] </i> [Editions by Erasmus of classical accounts of Roman emperors by Suetonius, Dio Cassius, and others] (Cologne, 1527) <br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.6.23 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21415622990003606"> (catalogue record)</a><br>
<b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-F-00002-00015"> Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-tXzMbMk/0/a8bad156/Ti/F-002-015-037-Ti.jpg)
![Woman described as an adultress
<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Desiderius Erasmus<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> Ex recognitione Des. Erasmi Roterodami, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Dion Cassius Nicaeus … [et alii] </i> [Editions by Erasmus of classical accounts of Roman emperors by Suetonius, Dio Cassius, and others] (Cologne, 1527) <br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.6.23 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21415622990003606"> (catalogue record)</a>
<br><b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-F-00002-00015"> Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-ggmCtqx/0/af3fa546/Ti/F-002-015-042-Ti.jpg)
![Marginalia, including manicule
<br><br>
<b>Author:</b> Desiderius Erasmus<br>
<b>Title:</b><i> Ex recognitione Des. Erasmi Roterodami, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Dion Cassius Nicaeus … [et alii] </i> [Editions by Erasmus of classical accounts of Roman emperors by Suetonius, Dio Cassius, and others] (Cologne, 1527) <br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> G.6.23 <a href="http://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21415622990003606"> (catalogue record)</a>
<br><b>Digital copy:</b> <a href="https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-F-00002-00015"> Cambridge Digital Library</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Exhibitions/ThomasSmith/Exploring-Mind/i-K2W5RhZ/0/5d549dbc/Ti/F-002-015-029-Ti.jpg)