GREGORY XIII: (1502-1585) Lot n° 551

GREGORY XIII: (1502-1585) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1572-85. His name being Ugo Buoncompagni. Best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally accepted civil calendar to this day. Very rare L.S., `Greg[oriu]s p.p.XIII´, signed as Pope, one page, oblong small 4to, [Rome], 22nd November 1579, in Italian. Pope Gregory XIII is informed by his secret treasurer, stating `..di parola nostra havete pagato a Mastro Lorenzo Bonfanti, nostro fontnaro,….per sua sovvenzione.. senz´altra ricevuta..´ and before concluding `.. ché tale e mente nostra.´ (''since this is our will.''). Countersigned by Antonius Caucus (1532-1583), Jesuit Archbishop of Corfu `Corcyrenus´. Small overall minor age wear, with extremely small ink holes. Irregular edges. G £1500-2000 In 1572 Cardinal Boncompagni, on becoming Pope, assumed the name of Gregory XIII in hommage to the great reforming Pope Gregory I. Unlike most of his predecessors, Gregory XIII lived a faultless personal life, and was a model for his simplicity of life. He built the magnificent Gregorian chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter, however Pope Gregory XIII is best known for being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar.