HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Browsing through the online Medici archives ( http://documents.medici.org/ )is lots of fun. Only extracts of the letters are online, but they nonetheless reveal interesting info.
A letter from Cosimo bartoli to grand duke Francesco de' Medici on 23 September 1570
Bartoli reports that the famous Roman courtesan Imperia has been whipped, and her offer to pay a 200-scudi fee was declined: in fact she was discovered carrying weapons and dressed like a man late at night outside the Ortaccio [the ghetto-like enclosure for prostitutes created by Pope Pius V in the area that is now Piazza Montedoro in Rome].
A letter from Francesco Babbi to Ugolino Grifoni on December 3 1539
Francesco Babbi informs Ugolino Grifoni that the Bishop of Forlì [Bernardo de' Medici] has written 20 letters to Rome about a Signora Saltarella [probably a prostitute] who has left Florence after having transmitted the "Pelarella" [syphilis] to half of the city. Despite this, she received gifts amounting to 400 scudi from the Cardinal of Ferrara [Ippolito II d'Este] and others. Saltarella also had three dresses made worth 200 scudi and received a gift of a satin robe lined with white fox fur.
A letter from Marco Bracci to Ugolino Grifoni on January 1540
Marco Bracci recounts to Ugolino Grifoni the richly decorated dress of Saltarella. Despite the warnings by the Bishop of Forlì [Bernardo de' Medici], in which she is described as having syphilis, Saltarella continues to dine with important cardinals.
A letter from Pietro Camaiano to Pier Francesco Riccio on 7 December 1542
Eleonora di Toledo receives some of the garments she has ordered from the court. The duchess is particularly pleased with a pair of velvet shoes. Cosimo I comments that, with the addition of gold embroidered crosses, they could be mistaken for the shoes of the Pope. Reports the excellent progress being made with the development of the Studio Pubblico in Pisa; Cosimo I meets with Francesco Campana, Alessandro Malegonelle and Lorenzo Malegonelle to discuss unspecified affairs relating to this matter. Cosimo I and Eleonora di Toledo take a boat to the coast to enjoy a day of hunting and fishing.
A letter from Pietro Camaiano to Pier Francesco Riccio on 16 May 1543
Caterina Tornabuoni provides detailed instructions for the execution of a collar ("gorgiera") for Eleonora di Toledo by "the second veil-maker in via de' Servi" [presumably Gostanzo Gavazzeni]. Caterina sends a design for one of the roses to be employed in the pattern [the drawing is no longer included].
A letter from Pietro Camaiano to Pier Francesco Riccio on 15 February 1543
The courier Mariotto [possibly Mariotto di Bastiano da Vinci or Mariotto Fanucci] brings cosmetics to the court in Grassina for Eleonora di Toledo and a straw hat with a plume for Cosimo I. Hunting keeps the Duke and Duchess in good humor.
A letter from Mariotto Cecchi to Pier Francesco Riccio on 20 October 1548
Mariotto Cecchi writes to Pier Francesco Riccio regarding various items needed by members of the court in Pisa. These include hats for Eleonora di Toledo, socks for Cosimo I de' Medici, boots for Francesco and Giovanni de' Medici. Francesco is threatening trouble if his turquoise does not arrive within three days. Their Excellencies have been fishing. Cosimo has requested that ten little pavilions for falcons be made for the model of the big sun pavilion.
A letter from Giovambattista Peloro to Jean de Seurre 11 September 1553
A certain Giovanni [probably Giovan Battista Peloro] asks to be provided with tablecloth and napkins for his room in Port'Ercole. He also asks for some prostitutes to be sent in order to have a chance to "refresh the codpiece".
A letter from Antonio Serguidi to Giovanna de' Habsburg on 2 May 1573
Antonio Serguidi informs Johanna von Habsburg-de' Medici, who is travelling to Loreto, that the weather has improved in Florence, allowing her husband, Francesco I de' Medici, to wear "calze" instead of "calzoni", which makes him appear much more handsome. The prince went fishing the previous day on the Mugnone river and has gone to the villa at Pratolino today. The health of Grand Duke Cosimo I is not too bad, despite some weakness in his hands.