Rare copy of the speech written in name of King Sebastião of Portugal (1554-1578) for the Council of Trent (1545-1563). The speech was given on February 9, 1562, in front of the bishops and other attendants of the council, when King Sebastião was just 8 years old. The speeches provided by the Kings of the European nations were to be measured carefully, as the position taken by the Church in many matters carried geo-political changes; not a century ago, the Pope had granted a large portion of the South American territories to Portugal through the Treaty of Tordesillas, a line that took centuries to properly determine. It is unknown who wrote this speech, but it is often attributed to Giovanni Strozzi (active 1547-1562), who wrote another similar work. The text makes clear that the kings of Portugal have always been good Christians and promises that Sebastião will be as well. The last page contains the response from the Synod. This work rarely appears on the market.
The Council of Trent was an ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, held in reponse to the Protestant Reformation. There were 25 sessions over the course of 18 years. The attendants discussed the Church's doctrine and teachings in order to clarify them, and defined what it considered to be heresies. The council had a long-lasting impact on religion in Europe through the numerous apologetic and polemical documents and decrees that resulted from it.
With a manuscript note on the recto of the first blank flyleaf: "Indice" and two manuscript notes on the title-page ("No. 1" at the head of the title-page and "Aug. Soromenho" at the foot of the title-page). With slight water-staining in the top and bottom margins of the leaves, very slightly browned throughout. Otherwise in very good condition. Adams , vol. II, 1953; USTC 850992; cf. BM, Italian, p. 619 (different ed.).