SPONDE, Henri De (Henricus Spondanus): Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Eminentissimi Cardinalis Caesaris Baronii Continuatio ab Anno M.C.XCVII. quo is desiit, ad Finem M.DC.XLVI. Per Henricum Spondanum Mauleosolensem Appamiarum in Gallia Narbonnensi Episcopum, Lutetiae Parisiorum, impensis Societatis Typographicae Librorum officij Ecclesiastici iussu Regis constitutae (in fine: Apud Sebastianum Cramoisy, D. Bechet & L. Billaine Gvillelmum Le Bé, S. Huré & F. Léonard, G. & N. Clopeiau et Godefrid Marcher), 1659. 1a edizione aggiornata fino al 1656, 2 voll. in folio, cm. 39 x 24, pp. XXXVI, 917, [75]; [6], 1004, [86], con decorazioni xilografiche (testate, finalini, iniziali) e il testo inquadrato su 2 colonne. Antiporta figurata al vol. 1 con ritratto dell’autore firmato Masne ("Masne delin. et sc."). In entrambi i volumi: frontespizio architettonico e figurato firmato L. Gaultier ("L. Gaultier incidit") con due angeli all’architrave che portano un medaglione raffigurante la Vergine col bambino, con ai lati gli apostoli Pietro e Paolo su piedistalli (recanti iscrizioni), mentre in basso c'è l’allegoria della Chiesa, con croce, tiara, libro, colomba e chiavi, che incatena l’eresia e la guerra. Legatura coeva (XVII secolo) in piena pelle, con piatti incisi a secco a motivi geometrici (v. foto), dorso a 5 nervi con titolo a penna su cartellino. Difetti: al volume 2 camminamento di tarlo dal frontespizio fino a p. 16 ca.; poi rimane solo qualche ininfluente minuscolo forellino di tarlo che sparisce progressivamente. Alla legatura spellature e mancanze; alla pelle è stato sovrapposto (anticamente?) una tela sottile (che secondo me sarebbe da togliere). Per il resto le legature e il blocco dei libri sono solidi, le pagine sono bianche senza rilevanti tracce di foxing (solo un minimo: v. foto) o altre macchie. Interno quindi in ottimo stato (escluso il tarlo al vol. 2). Provenienza: da asta dalla Francia; vi sono un'annotazione del XIX sec. (incomprensibile) e un vecchio ex libris e vecchio timbro di una biblioteca ecclesiastica estinta francese o belga che non sono riuscito a individuare (S. Croce: forse l'acquirente riuscirà a trovarla; in Francia, con le leggi del 1905, tutto il patrimonio degli ordini religiosi è stato confiscato, per cui non sarà facile). Spondanus fu l'unico dei vari continuatori di Baronio (che si era fermato al 1197) a finire l'opera dal 1198 (papato di Innocenzo III) fino al 1622, che pubblicò in prima edizione nel 1639. La presente edizione presenta un'ulteriore continuazione, postuma, fino al 1656, per cui in sé è una prima edizione completa. N.B.: NON ESISTE IN COMMERCIO: IN VENDITA, DI SPONDE, SI TROVANO SOLO I BANALI RIASSUNTI (EPITOME) di BARONIO (fino a 1.441 EUR) , MA NESSUN ESEMPLARE DELLA PRESENTE CONTINUAZIONE DAL 1198 al 1656, la vera opera principale di Sponde. --- 1st edition updated to 1656, 2 vols. folio, 40 x 25 cm, pp. XXXVI, 917, [75]; [6], 1004, [86], with xylographic decorations (headers, endpapers, initials) and the text framed in 2 columns. Illustrated frontispiece to vol. 1 with portrait of the author signed Masne (‘Masne delin. et sc.’). In both volumes: architectural and figured frontispiece signed L. Gaultier (‘L. Gaultier incidit’) with two angels on the architrave bearing a medallion depicting the Virgin and Child, with the apostles Peter and Paul on pedestals (bearing inscriptions) on either side, while at the bottom is the allegory of the Church, with cross, tiara, book, dove and keys, enchaining heresy and war. Coeval (17th century) full leather binding, with plates engraved with geometric motifs (see photo), 5-nerved spine with pencilled title on card. Flaws: to volume 2 woodworm walk from the title page up to p. 16 approx.; then only a few insignificant tiny woodworm holes which gradually disappear. On the binding there is some peeling and missing marks; the leather has been overlaid (in ancient times?) with a thin cloth (which in my opinion should be removed). Otherwise the bindings and book block are solid, the pages are blank without significant traces of foxing (only a minimum: see photo) or other stains. Interior therefore in very good condition (excluding woodworm at vol. 2). Provenance: from an auction in France; there is a 19th century annotation (incomprehensible) and an old ex libris and old stamp of an extinct French or Belgian ecclesiastical library which I have not been able to locate (S. Croce: perhaps the buyer will be able to find it; in France, with the laws of 1905, all the patrimony of religious orders was confiscated, so it will not be easy). Spondanus was the only one of the various continuators of Baronius (who had stopped at 1197) to finish the work from 1198 (papacy of Innocent III) until 1622, which he published as a first edition in 1639. The present edition (Paris 1659) has a further, posthumous continuation up to 1656, so in itself is a complete first edition. The AUTHOR and the Work: Henri Spondanus (né de Sponde; 6 January 1568, Mauléon – 18 May 1643, Toulouse) was a French Catholic jurist, historian, and continuator of the Annales Ecclesiastici compiled by Cardinal Baronius, and Bishop of Pamiers. He was a convert from Calvinism. Henri de Sponde's father, Ennico (Iñigo), was a Councilor and Private Secretary of Queen Jeanne d'Albret of Navarre. Henri was born at Mauléon in Bearn on 6 January 1568. His mother was Salvia de Hosia of Bayonne, daughter of Martin de Hosia of Pamplona. At his baptism into the Calvinist church at Pau, baby Henri's godfather was Henri de Navarre, the future King of Navarre and France. At the age of eight, he began his studies at the Calvinist college of Orthez. His elder brother Jean was studying in Geneva, and in 1584 published a Latin translation of Homer. After studying humanities, and becoming proficient in Latin and Greek, he followed his father into the service of the royal house of Navarre. In 1589 he was jurist at the Parlement of Tours, and was named a Councilor of King Henri of Navarre, King Henri IV of France. Henri accompanied the royal ambassador of Henri de Navarre, Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas, to England and Scotland in 1597, and, upon his return, took up the study of Civil and Canon Law. It was said that he could recite the entire Institutes of the Emperor Justinian from memory. Persuaded by the writings of Robert Bellarmine and convinced by the instructions of Cardinal Jacques Davy Duperron, who had also instructed Henri IV, Sponde became a Catholic, officially converted by Louis Godebert, the Penitentiary of Notre Dame de Paris, on 21 August 1595. His father had already converted to Catholicism from Calvinism in 1593. In 1600 Henri was a member of the suite of Cardinal François de Sourdis who was sent to Rome as French ambassador and pilgrim in observance of the Holy Year of 1600. At Florence in December, Cardinal Duperron had the opportunity to recommend Sponde to the Cardinal Legate, Pietro Aldobrandini, the Pope's nephew, who was working to arrange a peace between Henri of France and Charles Emmanuel of Savoy in the matter of the Marquesate of Saluzzo. In Rome he became the Assessor of Cardinal Cesare Baronius, the Vatican Librarian from 1597 to 1607. He was ordained priest in Rome at the Basilica of San Marco on 7 March 1606, by Claudio Sozomen, Bishop of Pola. After his immediate return to France, he received a letter from Cardinal Baronius, dated 31 August 1606, granting him permission to publish his epitome of the Annales Ecclesiastici. He was soon back in Rome, however, assisting Cardinal Baronius in seeing what turned out to be his last volume through the press. Baronius died on 30 June 1607, and Sponde undertook to continue the work on the Annales, which had only reached the twelfth century. Pope Paul V then appointed him Corrector supplicationum in the office of the Apostolic Penitentiary. Frizon states that the appointment came after the appointment of Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese as Major Penitentiary in 1610. Sponde was also named Rector of the French Church in Rome, San Luigi dei Francesi. As Rector, he was concerned at the apparent laxness and inattention on the part of the Chaplains appointed to the Church, and he attempted to apply a remedy. He suggested to the Archbishop of Lyon, who was the French Ambassador in Rome, that Pierre de Bérulle might supply two Oratorian priests to the church of San Luigi to help raise standards. Chancellor Sillery obtained the King's agreement, and Pope Paul gave his, while Bérulle sent two priests from Paris. The Administrators of Saint Louis and the Chaplains, however, feared the loss of their posts, raised such strong opposition that the two Oratorian priests asked to be repatriated. The affair dragged on for six years, until Pope Paul put an end to it, but in the meantime Father Sponde, realizing the difficulty of his position, resigned and returned to France. In February 1615 Sponde is recorded as living in a house at the foot of Monte Pincio below Santissima Trinità del Monte, from which, on 26 January he visited the parishes of San Bartolomeo all'Isola, San Niccolò in Carcere, and Santa Maria in Cosmedin, trying to bring peace to warring factions. In 1625 he was nominated Bishop of Pamiers by King Louis XIII, and approved in Consistory by Pope Urban VIII on 20 July 1626. As a mark of his special pleasure, the Pope ordered that Sponde's bulls be granted without the payment of the usual fees. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 16 August 1626 by the Archbishop of Lyon, Cardinal Denis de Marquemont, who had just been created a Cardinal in January. It is said that fourteen cardinals had bid for the honor of being the principal consecrator. On 31 October 1634 Bishop Henri wrote his Last Will and Testament. In 1638 he obtained an order in council of Louis XIII, granting him 60,000 livres over a period of ten years for the reconstruction of the cathedral and the bishop's residence. Owing to ill-health, he attempted to resign his diocese in 1639, and retired to Paris; the resignation, however, was not accepted, and Henri left Paris and retired to Toulouse. Bishop Henri de Sponde died in Toulouse on 18 May 1643. He was buried in the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne. Writings: Les Cimitières sacrez (in French). Bordeaux: impr. de S. Millanges. 1597. Annales ecclesiastici Cæsaris Baronii in Epitomen redacti (Paris, 1612). Annales sacri a mundi creatione ad ejusdem redemptionem (Paris, 1637), an epitome of the "Annals" of Agostino Tornielli. Annalium Baronii continuatio ab a. 1197 quo is desinit ad a. 1622 (Paris, 1639); ad a. 1656 (Paris 1659). SPEDIZIONE: i 2 tomi in folio sono molto pesanti e voluminosi, e saranno imballati accuratamente: la spesa è quindi dovuta a ciò, non a speculazione e sono disposto a rimborsare la differenza. #treasuresofthevatican052025