I visited the Minster Library recently which is situated in the old Archbishops Palace. It houses the Minster's collection of printed works the earliest of which are pre 1501. Much of the material is theological in nature but it also has early music scripts, herbals, and a series of fascinating letters from the Venetian ambassador to the UK.
Four years at the court of Henry VIII: selection of despatches written by the Venetian ambassador, Sebastian Giustiniani and addressed to the signory of Venice, January 12th 1515, to July 26th 1519.
They are translated into English and are full of gossip, observation and speculation about all affairs that may affect the interests of the Venetian republic. The ambassador, clearly a born diplomat notes at one stage 'I spoke him very fair, using many very bland expressions, as I always endeavour to do, telling him I would write to your Sublimity, who I imagined would form a deliberate decision as inspired by the Almighty..........'
