Are there documented cases of Renaissance men or women with official poisoners on their staff?
You won’t find “poisoner” listed on a household ledger but every great family employed herbalists, perfumers, and apothecaries, at least some of whom may have had more than a passing knowledge of poisons. Poison was, after all, the weapon of choice of the Renaissance, or at least people believed that to be the case. Many common diseases of the day–malaria, typhoid, and cholera, for example–produce symptoms that mimic the effects of various poisons. As a result, whenever a great man or woman died suddenly or after a brief illness, poison was suspected. Nobles and wealthy merchants did everything possible to safeguard themselves and their families from falling victim to it. They may also, on occasion, have used it as a weapon. Certainly, the Borgias are suspected of having done so although their reputation in this regard may be exaggerated. Cardinal Borgia is a fascinating character, with a surprising number of positive qualities. Did you set out to portray him in this way, or did he s
