Bartholomeus [Bartholomé]  Le Conte {Paul IV-Pius IV}

Tenor; France (Limoges [according to the motu proprio admitting him to the choir] Noyon [according to Document...]); formerly in the Cappella Giulia (March-May 1554); admitted 2 September 1555 by a two-thirds plus three vote at the same time as Francisco Talavera;   mandati  September 1555-April 1565; on 24 December 1564, he asked for a leave of absence [ DS ] and on 13 April 1565, it was reported to the singers that he had entered the service of the King of France. In spite of already having left it, Le Conte was expelled from the chapel on 31 August 1565 by the commission of cardinals; it was reported that he was: "fuor di Roma, ne so rendere conte di lui, ma si dice che ha molto bona voce" [Document...], but perhaps the real reason for his departure and his decision to remain in France is contained in the second remark about him, that he was: "hereticus pessimus" [Document...]. He may very well be the composer Bartholomeus Comes Gallicus (El Conte), whose book of motets for five voices was printed by Gardane in 1547 ( LEWIS , No. 107).

DOCUMENTS

DS 4

94r: entry dated 2 September 1555 [CASIMIRI (1937), p. 27]

Non cantavimus missam quia examinavimus novos cantores in capella in palatio videlicet d. Bartholomeum Cont et d. Franciscum de Talavera et fuerunt inventi idonei quia facto escutrino ut moris est per fabas seu balotas unuquisque habuit duas partes et tria vota in suum favorem et ideo acetati fuerunt in nostro comertio.

94v: entry dated 9 September 1555 [CASIMIRI (1937), p. 28]

Eodem die fuerunt admissi in novi cantores d Franciscus de Talavera et d. Bartholomeus Cont per R. p. d. episcopus Castrensis magistrum capelle, justa statuta collegii et motum prorpium pape. Deinde eodem die Bartholomeus Cont soluit ducatos duodecim pro jocundo introitu suo ut moris est.

VatS 679, fol. 13r [transcribed in  FREY , pp. 138-139]: Undated original motu proprio ordering the admission of Le Conte and Francisco  Talavera .

Paulus Papa IIII

Motu proprio etc. dilectos filios Franciscum Talavera clericum Seguntine ac Bartolomeum Campte [sic] clericum Lemovicensisi diocesium, quos sonora voce et musices scientia preditos ac probe et honeste vite esse fidedigna relatione accepimus, specialis gratie favore prosequi volentes dilectis filiis magistro ac cantoribus cappellanis cappelle nostre, quatenus ipsos Franciscum et Bartolomeum, si eos previo examine iuxta dicte cappelle statuta et constitutiones ad hoc habiles et idoneos esse repererint in dicte cappelle cantores cappellanos ad vitam, ut moris est, recipiant et admittant ac eorum numero et consortio favorabiliter aggregent, committimus et mandamus ac eis desuper licentiam et facultatem concedimus, volentes ac motu simil eisdem Francisco et Bartolomeo concedentes ac etiam decernentes, quod, postquam, ut prefertur, recepti et admissi fuerint, omnibus et singulis privilegiis, immunitatibus, exemptionibus, favoribus gratiis et indultis, quibus alii eiusdem cappelle cantores cappellani de iure et consuetudine ac per privilegia et indulta illis et eidem cappelle pro tempore concessa utuntur, potiuntur et gaudent ac uti, potiri et gaudere poterunt quomodolibet in futurum, uti, potiri et gaudere ac salaria iura et emolumenta eisdem cantoribus competentia et eis dari solita consequi et habere possint et valeant sibique de salariis, iuribus et emolumentis predictis responderi debeant. Non obstantibus constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis ac quibusvis presertim per feleicis recordationis Iulium papam 3.m predecessorem nostrum de non recipiendis aliquibus in dicta cappella cantoribus, donec illorum numerus ad vigintiquatuor dumtaxat reductus existeret, ac alias quomodolibet et cum quibuscunque etiam dereogatoriarum derogatoriis clausulis irritantibusque et aliis decretis etiam motu proprio etc. factis, inhibitionibus ac statutis, decretis et ordinationibus quibuscunq ue latissime extendentibus, etiam si de illis etc. tenores illorum etc. hac vice latissime derogamus, ceterisque contrariis quibuscunque, presentis motus proprii solam signatura sufficere et ubique fidem facere regula contraria non obstante decernentes.

Placte D. N. pape Jo. Mi. Car.lis Saracenus

13v

Die 9 Settembris 1555 retroscripti Bartolomeus et Franciscus prius per cantores examinati et approbati iuxta formam constitutionem fuerunt admissi et recepti in cantores cappellanos iuxta formam retroscripti motus proprii etc. iuarunt etc. presentibus ibidem omnibus cantoribus etc.

Hieronimus Episcopus Castrensis

Magister Cappelle

DS 7

133v: entry dated 13 April 1565

Eadem die d, Antonius calasans decanus ostendit dominis cantoribus in capella congregatis quasque literas Bartholomei Conti in quibus illum faciebat versiorem se receptum fuisse in cantorum per dominum patrie sue et ita nullius servitio volle insistere et permanere idioque constaret collegio dominorum cantorum locum suum esse vacuum et ut talis per donari alio cantori, quibus intellectis habitas fuit per excluso a prefato collegio per omnes cantores.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:  VANDER STRAETEN , pp. 408-411;  FREY,Die Diairen, pp. 138-141;  ROSTIROLLA , p. 157;  LEWIS , pp. 571-574, SHERR, "Competence and Incompetence."