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

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

• 'Lettres et mémoires concernant l'Italie', 1605-34, mainly the correspondence of Philippe de Béthune and Charles Créquy, 1627-34
• 'Dépêches importantes sur la Paix d'Italie', 1643-4, royal letters mainly to François Fontenay-Mareil, Marquis de Fontenay, and Cardinal Alessandro Bichi
• 'Lettres de Monsr. Gueffier chargé des affaires du Roy à Rome écrites à Sa Majesté', mainly addressed to H.A. Loménie de Brienne, 1645-9

The transcripts were bought at Sotheby's in 1919.

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/services/admissions/).

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.

Diplomatic and consular service, French | Italy

Bichi | Alessandro | 1596-1657 | Cardinal

de Bethune | Philippe | fl 1605-1634 | Comte de Selles | French ambassador in Rome

de Crequy | Charles I de Blanchefort | ? 1578-1638 | Duc de Lesdiguieres | French ambassador

De Lomenie De Brienne | Henri Auguste | 1594-1666 | Comte De Brienne | French Secretary of State

Fontenay-Mareil | Francois | ? 1594-1665 | Marquis de Fontenay