Papers relating to Papal conclaves, chiefly to those for the election of Innocent IX., between 1590 and 1605, and consisting of notes and discourses on the manner of conducting the said conclaves, letters to and from the Spanish ambassador [Duke of Sessa] and others, &a.
1. Draft of a memorandum, entitled “El mas digno,” to be used at a Papal election, that of Gregory XIV. (?); in the handwriting of the Duke of Sessa [D. Antonio Folch de Cardona Fernandez de Cordova] f. 25
2. Original letter of Pedro Ximenez de Murillo to Monsignor Peña, auditor of the Rota, dat. the last day of August [1590], asking whether the Pope’s [Gregory XIV.] election is to take place after the mass of the Holy Ghost; with Monsignor Peña’s holograph answer on the margin f. 41
3. Draft of a paper in the same hand as No. 1 (the Duke’s), entitled: “Defectos e ynconvenientes en la forma de eleccion de Garrafa.” f. 52
4. “Discurso sobre la forma de eleccion del Papa.” f. 60
5. Original corrected draft of the above, in the same hand as Nos. 1 and 3 f. 65
6. “Ciertos avisos que me dieron (á mi, el duque de Sessa, embaxador de Su Magd. en Roma) en materia de conclave;” not signed f. 73
7. “Juicio de todos los cardenales que habran de asister al conclave para la eleccion de nuevo Papa;” addressed to the Duke of Sessa (?) f. 79
8. Copy of letters of Philip II. to his ambassador at Rome [Duke of Sessa], dat. El Pardo, 5, 15 Dec. 1590, and of the Emperor Rudolph II., 8, 29 Oct. to various cardinals, respecting a Papal election [that of Innocent IX.] to take place shortly f. 87
9. “Copia de la carta de Su Magd. [Felipe II.] al Gran Duque de Toscana [Fernando de Medicis];” El Pardo, 5 Dec. 1590 f. 99