Lorenzo Magalotti at the Court of Charles II: His Relazione D’Inghilterra of 1668In the late 1660s the English court received a visitor from Florence--Lorenzo Magalotti, an intelligent, sensitive writer and diplomat with a passion for observation and description. Magalotti had come from a state governed by an absolute grand duke to a kingdom engaged in a fierce struggle for political liberty, and from a society in which the sexual behaviour of women was closely controlled by law and custom, to one of unexampled licentiousness among the upper classes. This cultural shock produced fascinating portraits by Magalotti of Charles II and his court, accounts of their amorous intrigues, and percipient if sometimes biased observations on politics. There is also substantially accurate account of the armed forces of the kingdom, and a good deal about its intellectual and artistic life. W.E. Knowles Middleton has provided a clear and elegant translation of this document, along with an informative introduction and supplementary notes. |
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... command me or make use of me . As I was forestalled in this matter by the kindness of Sir [ Bernard ] Gascoigne ... commands . 59 The Italians that Magalotti actually mentions in the Relazione are far from an impressive group . The self ...
... command me or make use of me . As I was forestalled in this matter by the kindness of Sir [ Bernard ] Gascoigne ... commands . 59 The Italians that Magalotti actually mentions in the Relazione are far from an impressive group . The self ...
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Admiral affairs ambassador Baron battle beautiful Bernard Gascoigne Biblioteca Riccardiana bishops BNCF Boyle brother called captain Castlemaine Catholic Chancellor Charles Colonel command considered court Cromwell daughter Duchess Duke of Buckingham Duke of York Duke's Dutch enemies English esteem Falconieri father favour fireships fleet Florence France Francis Glisson French gentleman George Grand Duke guards Henry Henry Oldenburg History honour Howard Ireland Italian James John Graunt John Wallis King's kingdom knighted ladies later letter lieutenant lives London Lord Arlington Lorenzo Magalotti Magalotti Magalotti's visit Marquis married Miss Crinò nobility noble Oldenburg Oxford Parliament Pepys philosopher Portugal pounds sterling Presbyterian present Prince Cosimo Queen realm regiment Relazione religion reputation Robert Robert Boyle Royal Society Samuel Morland Secretary shillings a day ships Sir John Sir Samuel Sir William soldiers things Thomas thousand pounds tion vessels Vice-Admiral Viscount wife women young
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