Valladolid, Spain, 17 March 1559. Folio (58 x 54.5 cm; 23 x 21.5"; h x w), 1 leaf. Pedro de Villanueva was one of the conquistadores of Mexico. He was among Cortés's original party, part of the Francisco de Saucedo (also spelled "Salcedo") contingent, whose ship was delayed in leaving Cuba. With Saucedo, a friend of Cortés, he arrived at Villarica de Veracruz in July of 1519, shortly after Cortés and his men had destroyed the "idols" at Cempoala.nnVillanueva was among the small but grand "army" that marched into Tenochtitlán in the Spring of 1520 and in July of the same year were to flee the western world's largest city fighting for their lives, on the "Noche Triste." He survived the hell and slaughter of the causeways and later returned with the greatly augmented force that destroyed the Aztec capital and its empire. Still later he was with Cortés in the exploration and conquest of Pánuco and following that with Nuño de Guzmán in the exploration and conquest of Zacatecas and Jalisco. He and his brother Fernando (also a member of the Saucedo contingent) jointly received an encomienda (Quechula) and settled in Puebla de los Angeles where Pedro served as a regidor on the town council in the 1540s and 1550s.nnIn the last years of the 1550s Villanueva petitioned the crown for the grant of a coat of arms in recognition of his service to the crown in the conquest of Mexico. Felipe II honored that request in this impressive document. He enumerates the Conqueror's deeds, specifically mentioning Don Hernando Cortés and Nuño de Guzmán and the various conquests in which Villanueva participated. He describes the coat of arms being granted and the significance of the colors and symbols. The granted arms are beautifully accomplished in many colors within the text of the document, with that text yielding space to the large miniature: Measuring 17.5 x 15 cm (7 x 6"), the arms are painted with a formal frame delimiting their presentation on a red field with corner brackets of gold over blue. Surmounting the arms is a knight's helm with plumage, trailing from which are decorative "swooshes." The new Villanueva arms are quartered, showing a cyphered "M" surmounted by a fleur de lis in the upper left, a crowned lion en passant in the upper right, an arm holding a sword rising out of a flowing river in the lower left, and a castle on a hill in the lower right.nnThe text of the grant of arms is elegantly indited in a standard court semi-round gothic in sepia ink and is enclosed on the left, right, and top sides by an illuminated and historiated sash-like border. In the upper left and right corners are miniatures of Justice and Knowledge in sylvan settings. Running between those two along the top of the document is a decorative panel incorporating flowers, fruits, mythic animals, and cherubs. Below this, the king's name is accomplished in large letters of gold on a field of red accented with gold, and the "D" of his honorific "Don" is given special treatment. This is elaborated in an ornate, almost baroque style that comes close to obfuscating the fact of its being a majuscule "d": Wrought in gold, the letter at first appears to be merely a "frame" for the royal coat of arms that fills its center. The king's arms are accomplished in gold, white, black, red, and blue; the whole being laid on a blue field with white accents.nnThe panels running down the left and right sides of the document are accomplished in red, gold, green, pink, white, red, blue, and brown, many in several shades. The decoration includes birds of several varieties including a fine owl, animals including a watchful rabbit, strawberries and other fruits, and flowers, ribbons, grotesques, and butterflies.nnThe document is signed in the king's name by Juana (Joanna Habsburg) de Austria, "princesa de Portugal." Married to Prince Juan of Portugal, young Juana (b. 1537) was the regent of the Spanish crown from 1554 until her brother Philip's return to Spain in September of 1559. She had just lost her husband to death and borne his posthumous son, both in January, 1554, when she left Portugal and her child in the Spring of that year to assume the regency throne in Valladolid (information supplied by Kelli Ringhofer, Ph.D. candidate, University of Minnesota).nnIn format and content this document differs dramatically from the cartas executorias de hidalguia that most collectors are familiar with. Here we have a single large sheet of vellum handsomely engrossed, artfully illuminated, and exquisitely decorated with a composite border containing miniatures. This is not a bound volume of copies of documents created for storage in the family archive. This was created for display in a prominent place of honor; and it is a magnificent display item. This is not a grant of nobility nor a confirmation of it based on something that some vague ancestor did; rather it is a grant of a coat of arms to a man who himself performed significant military and other service for the Crown and whom the Crown wishes to honor both publicly and privately. Only a few hundred of Cortés's men survived the Noche Triste, the reentry into and destruction of Mexico City, and the subsequent conquests in Panuco and elsewhere. The number of grants such as this to actual members of Cortés's original "army" were few. And surviving grants to those actual participants in the Conquest are extremely rare, even more so in commerce. This is the only royal grant of a coat of arms to an actual member of Cortés's "army" that we have seen that has ever appeared in the marketplace. Via published auction records and our extensive archive of dealer catalogues, we trace no instance before this one of the offering for sale of a grant of arms to a Conqueror of Mexico. Yes, there are examples in various libraries and museums in Mexico and Spain, and probably in the U.S., but such examples seem to have entered their institutional resting places via donation from descendants of Conquerors, not via purchase.nnProvenance: It is awesome to realize that this is no mere retained secretarial copy of Felipe's grant of arms to Pedro de Villanueva. This gorgeous document not only records the king's rewards to one of Cortés's men, but was that Conqueror's personal property. It is the copy of the decree sent to him expressly, by the Crown!nnOn Villanueva, see: Icaza, Diccionario autobiográfico de conquistadores y pobladores de la Nueva España, I, 88-89; Thomas, Who's Who of the Conquistadors, 146; Himmerich y Valencia, The Encomenderos of New Spain, 1521-1555, 262; Díaz del Castillo, Verdadera historia de la conquista de la Nueva España, chap. Lill. Overall in very good condition. Some fold tears, some minor rubbing of small areas of images, stains as visible in our illustrations. The wax seal and its silk cords no longer present. Text clear, notnfaded, and colors strong.",Full pdf available, https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A439203/datastream/PDF/view

Measurements: 32 cm x 22 cm,Full pdf available, https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A444079/datastream/PDF/view

The covers have been made using manuscript leaves.,There are several holes in the back and front covers.,The book is bound with four leather straps.,There are two illuminated pictures with text at the beginning of the book.,Measurements: 31.5 cm x 21.75 cm

Philip II (1527-1598, joint Sovereign with Mary I, 1554-1558, from 1555 King of Spain) Letters Patent Signed 'El Rey', as Duke of Milan, in a beautifully clear italic hand, in Latin with translation, with short titles in Spanish and Italian, saying that "following the settlement" on Philip of the "Duchy of Milan, Principality of Pavia, and County of Angleria, by the most Invincible and Puissant Prince and Lord CHARLES V ... August Emperor of the Romans ... my most respected Father and Lord ... we appointed our ... sincerely beloved Cousin Don FERNANDO ÁLVAREZ DE TOLEDO", (1507-1582, from 1532 3rd DUKE OF ALBA), Philip's father's and his "Lieutenant-General and Captain- General in Italy, to be our Governor in the said Dominion of Milan", accordingly he now empowers Alba or his deputies "to receive the ... accustomed homage and oath of fidelity on the succession of a new Prince to the said Dominion from the Feudatories in the said Duchy", knowing that Alba "is endowed with the highest loyalty, ... prudence, knowledge of affairs and experience", swearing that they will do "while they shall live, all ... that they are bound to do ... in obedience and loyalty to us and our successors ... by reason of their feudal possessions of whatever quality and nature ... according to the forms both old and new and the custom of the said State of Milan", the Duke can take any appropriate steps "even if such things should ... require a more particular mandate than is expressed in these presents", those not taking the oath to be "under the full weight of our anger and indignation, and pain of Ten Thousand marks of pure gold", with Philip II's armorial seal as Duke of Milan approximately 2 1/2 inches diameter, and elaborate note of registration, vellum, 14" x 25 1/2" folding to 10 1/4" x 6 1/2", Brussels "in the Duchy of Brabant, in the 2nd Year of Our Reign", 8th December 1555, lacking the obverse of the seal, here expertly replaced at some time with a plain wax backing, preserving without loss the coat of arms (rubbed, but its main features are all present), the surrounding legend defective but retaining lettering PHILIPPVS, VTRIVS (Siciliae) and (Dux) MEDIOLANI, the document in excellent crisp condition [55678]nnPhilip II was born and brought up in Spain, as heir to his father Charles V (1500-1558) and grandmother Joanna, Queen of Spain, 'la loca', who had died only on 11th April 1555.nnPhilip was now (joint) sovereign of England - the title put first in this document - having married Queen Mary at Winchester Cathedral on 25th July 1554. In September 1555, thinking ahead to his abdication, Charles summoned Philip from England to Brussels, and on 15th October 1555, at an emotional ceremony, conveyed the Netherlands, inherited from Charles's father Philip of Burgundy, to his son, detaching them from the Empire. They were to give Philip II endless trouble.nnCharles had also detached the Duchy of Milan, key to holding Italy against the French, which had reverted to the Empire after the last Sforza died in 1535. He had proclaimed Philip as Duke on 11th October 1540, but Philip is now sovereign. Charles was to complete his abdication on 16th January 1556, when the more compact but often unruly Empire went to his brother Ferdinand I, while the scattered western dominions - Spain, including Aragon with its dependent kingdoms in the Mediterranean, and vast portions of the New World - were confirmed as Philip's.nnThe Great Duke of Alba (Alva) had campaigned with Charles V, and had accompanied Philip to England. Charles knew that Alba was ambitious, and warned his son against trusting any one noble completely. However, as Spain's best general, he was indispensable. He was Governor of Milan, 1555, Viceroy of Naples 1556, and captured Rome in 1557. He is most famous for his fierce reduction of the Netherlands as Governor, 1567-1573, and for securing Portugal to the crown of Spain in 1580.nnPhilip's seal here displays, in chief, the Spanish dominions - 1st grand quarter, Castile & León, 2nd Aragón, including Aragon proper, the two Sicilies (largely hidden by the escutcheon), Hungary and Jerusalem, and, in base, the Burgundian - 3rd grand quarter Austria and Burgundy ancient, 4th Burgundy modern and Brabant, with a small escutcheon for Flanders and Tirol. In the centre is a large escutcheon, quarterly, for Milan.,(Translation)n[1] PHILIP, by the Grace of God, King of England, France, Hither Sicily, Jerusalem, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith: Prince of Spain, Archduke of Austria: Duke of burgundy, Milan and Brabant: Count of Habsburg, [2] Flanders, Tirol etc:nnWe acknowledge and make known by the tenor of these presents to all men,nnThat, following the free division and settlement of the said State and Duchy of Milan, Principality of Pavia, and County of Angleria, made to us [3] by the most Invincible and Puissant Prince and Lord Charles the Fifth by Divine Clemency August Emperor of the Romans, King of Germany, the Spanish Dominions, the Two Sicilies etc., my [4] most respected Father and Lord, which he of his own liberality and munificence, with their rights and all things pertaining, had for a substantial period previously granted and given me, and with which he had invested me,nnWe have appointed and deputed our Illustrious and trusty, sincerely beloved [5] Cousin Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo [1507-1582, from 1532 3rd Duke of Alba] Prefect of Our Bodyguard ['praetorio nostro prefectum'], His the said Imperial Majesty's and Our Lieutenant-General and Captain-General in Italy, as our Governor in the said Dominion of Milan [6]nnand to receive the usual and accustomed homage and oath of fidelity on the succession of a new Prince to the said Dominion from the Feudatories in the said Duchy, Principality and County.nnAccordingly we have conveyed full ability to the said Duke of Alba, whom we know to be endowed with the highest loyalty towards us, prudence, [7] knowledge of affairs and experience, of our own motion, certain knowledge and deliberate intention, in the fullness of our royal and ducal power and after receiving sound counsel, and have [8] given, granted and imparted power and by the tenor of these presents do convey, give, grant and impart, making, deputing and constituting him our Mandatory and our special Procurator,nnto be able validly to receive, seek [9] and accept in our place and name, by himself on our behalf, or by his substitute or substitutes to be delegated by him for that purpose by virtue of this our commission and mandate to be substituted and designated,nnthe due [10] and accustomed homage and oath of fidelity from any whatever our feudatories in the said Duchy and Dominion of Milan, Principality of Pavia, and County of Angleria, both titled and untitled, whether of age or minors [11] of whatever pre-eminence, dignity, status, rank, order and condition by whatever name they may be known,nnthat they perform, do and carry out, while they shall live, all and singular those things that they are bound to do and observe [12] in obedience and loyalty to us and our successors lawfully entering into possession of the said Duchy and Dominion of Milan, Principality of Pavia and County of Angleria, by reason of their feudal possessions of whatever quality and naturenn[13] and that in them they will be ever loyal and obedient to us: and will do and observe all other things that good and loyal feudatories in the said Duchy, Principality and County are bound to do: doing away with all [14] fraud and deceit. And finally [they shall do so] according to the forms both old and new and the custom of the said State of Milan.nnAnd generally, that he is empowered to say, ask, do, manage, pursue and exercise, [15] all things that he shall deem necessary in this regard, and appropriate in any way whatsoever, and which we would do, or be empowered to do, if we were doing so in person, even if such things should be such as to require a more particular mandate than is expressed [16] in these presents;nnCommanding by the tenor of the same that all the abovesaid persons, all and singular our subjects in the said Duchy, Principality and County, under the full weight of our anger and indignation, and pain of Ten Thousand [17] marks of pure gold to be exacted without remission from any person acting to the contrary, to be brought to our treasuries at the first opportunity by the said Duke, or those deputed by him,nnshall be given notice or required to perform the said homage [18] and to swear the oath of loyalty, putting aside all deliberation, doubt, difficulty and contradiction.nnIn testimony of which these letters [are] subscribed by our hand and confirmed by the attaching of our seal. Given at Brussels in the Duchy of [19] Brabant, the 8th December in the Year of Our Lord 1555, in the 2nd Year of Our Reign.nn[Signed in Spanish] The Kingnn[In Spanish] Your Majesty gives power to the Duke of Alba to receive their homage from the Feudatories of the State of Milan.nn[In Italian] 1555 8th December. Dispatch of the Most Serene King Philip II whereby he deputes his Excellency the Duke of Alba, Governor of the State of Milan, to receive in his name the oath of the Feudatories of that State.nn[In Latin, note of Registration] Court, leaf 1, 70.,Full pdf available, https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A439224/datastream/PDF/view