Manuscript fragments on parchment (2 bifolia) of Decretals and letters, primarily of Pope John XXII, with a register of letters (1299) of Pope Boniface VIII
Description:
In Latin., Script: several scripts evident, from formal gothic bookhand to cursive., and Illuminated initials in red, blue, and violet. Paragraph marks in red and blue.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Boniface VIII, Pope, -1303. and John XXII, Pope, -1334.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Letters, Papal, Manuscripts, Medieval, Papacy, and History
This manuscript, a unique specimen of dramatic composition by Queen Elizabeth, represents the only surviving piece of stage property from the Elizabethan theater. It was passed from player to player during the great Theobalds Entertainment of 1591, and it is the only surviving original manuscript of any part of that Entertainment., Elizabeth was entertained by her Lord High Treasurer, Lord Burghley, at his Hertfordshire house, Theobalds, between 10 and 20 May 1591. In a contemporary manuscript text of the entertainments at Theobalds (British Library, Egerton MS. 2623), there is preserved a fanciful speech by a "Hermit," delivered to the Queen on Burghley's behalf, in which, pleading for royal permission to retire from public life, he requests her to restore to him his "cell," namely, Theobalds. The present document was prepared as an answer to Burghley's request and grants the "Hermit," her "woorthely belooved Coounceloour," the right to retire to his "cave," his "own houus," with "full & pacifik possession of all & every part thearof," and to be henceforth free from public duties if he so wishes., The text of the "charter" was printed in John Strype's Annals of the Reformation (1709), where it is described as having been "drawn up by the queen herself in a facetious style, to cheer the said treasurer." A highly characteristic example of Elizabethan wit, it has the form of a formal charter, certified and signed by Lord Chancellor Hatton, who is known to have taken part in a number of court entertainments. It bears the Great Seal and was no doubt read out and presented to Burghley, or to an actor representing him as a hermit. Instead of giving a simple answer to Burghley's request to retire from public life, Elizabeth evidently chose to enter into the spirit of the Hermit's request and frame her reply accordingly having this charter drawn up by one of her chancery scribes and passed by Hatton under the Great Seal, as part of a prearranged performance for the amusement of the court on the first day of her visit to Theobalds., The entertainment at Theobalds are described by E.K. Chambers in The Elizabethan Stage (II:247-248), Sir Walter Greg in the Review of English Studies (I[1924]:452-454), John Payne Collier in his History of English Dramatic Poetry (I:276), Alexander Dyce in The Works of George Peele (III:161-169), and John Nichols in his account of The Progress and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth (III:74)., and Purchased 1985.
Manuscript on paper containing 1) Anthony Jenkinson (1529-1610/11), Relation of a travel to Russia and Persia. 2) Anonymous sonnet in praise of Queen Elizabeth I. Probably an autograph. 3) Anonymous treatise in four parts attacking the apology which Cardinal William Allen (1532-1594) published in 1587 for Sir William Stanley's action in the Netherlands in the preceding year. 4) Accounts regarding tenements; one is headed "Lambeth". 5) Account of a journey through the Middle East, made in 1578 and attributed by another hand to an unrecorded Sir Anthony Standen. 6) Definition of terms related to the Turkish empire encountered in art. 5. 7) Description of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany under Francesco Maria de' Medici (1541-1587). 8) Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva (1508-1582), Proposal addressed to King Philip II of Spain regarding the conquest of Portugal, made 25 May 1579, in English translation. 9) Description of the Benedictine convent of Camaldoli near Arezzo. 10) Short description of England and Scotland. 11) Accounts signed William Garnett; the last one is dated from the 33d year of Queen Elizabeth (1591/1592). The upper outer corner of the page is missing, with loss of text. 12) Collection of state letters. 13) Estate accounts partly dating from 1586/1587 and addressed to unknown person
Description:
In English., Script: Part I (between 1550 and 1600): Art. 1, 3 and the group 5-10 are each written by a different scribe, all writing Gothica Cursiva Libraria (Secretary). The quotations and headings in art. 3 are in Humanistica Cursiva. Art. 2 is also written in Humanistica Cursiva. Art. 4 is in Gothica Cursiva Currens (Secretary)., Script: Part II (between 1600 and 1625): Written by one hand in Gothica Cursiva Currens (Secretary), some quotations and headings in Humanistica Cursiva., Script: Part III (between 1575 and 1600): Written by one hand in Gothica Cursiva Formata (Secretary)., and Binding: Seventeenth century (?). Brown (?) sheepskin over pasteboard, rebacked. On the spine the gold-tooled titles (s. XIX-XX) "JENKINSON RELATION 1561" and "STATE PAPERS?? MS.".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., England, Middle East, Russia, and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Allen, William, 1532-1594., Jenkinson, Anthony., and Standen, Anthony, Sir.
Subject (Topic):
English poetry, English prose literature, Manuscripts, Medieval, Description and travel, History, and Politics and government
Manuscript, in a single hand, providing charts, summaries, and personal observations on French finances during the Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War. The volume includes a list of the ordinary revenues and expenses of the king; ordinary military expenses; and an extensive section addressing war finance, including yearly summaries of money raised in France between 1756 and 1762, with notes of royal edicts, such as a lottery in 1756, and other edicts levying extraordinary taxes to pay for the war. The volume also contains sections on the finances of the clergy and the court of Rome; and occasional references to the American colonies and the Compagnie des Indes
Description:
In French., Table of contents at beginning of manuscript., On title page: Etat actuel des affaires Generalles Concernant les finances du Royaume de france. Qui constate Les Revenues et Deperses ordinaires du Roy avec Les affaires extraodinaires faittes en france depuis et comprisant 1756 jusqu'a la fin de 1762 au sujet de la guerre..., Binding: full calf. In gilt on spine: Mss. Finances de France., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
France and United States
Subject (Name):
Louis XV, King of France, 1710-1774. and France. Sovereign (1715-1774 : Louis XV)
Subject (Topic):
Appropriations and expenditures, Finance, History, Royal households, Economic aspects, Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, and Politics and government
Manuscript fragment on parchment of the Flores Grammaticae of Ludolf de Luco of Hildesheim
Description:
In Latin., Script: main text written in gothic script (littera textualis); the commentary is added in a contemporary or slightly later hand in littera cursiva currens, both marginally and interlinearly., and Decoration: 1-line initials of each verse are in brown filled with red and are written with the text inside the single bounding line; there are frequent paragraph marks in red preceding the initials outside the bounding line; punctuated with the punctus; the commentary also has paragraph marks in red.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Grammar, Comparative and general, History, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of Matthew of Westminster, Flores historiarum. Written presumably at the Cluniac priory of St. Saviour, Bermondsey, Surrey
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in bold gothic textura; x is crossed., Rubrics, often accompanied by notes to rubricator in well formed current Anglicana script. Decorative initials not filled in. Numerous pen trials and crude drawings in margins (e.g., ff. 28r, 46v, 47r, 63r)., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Blind-tooled brown calf with a gold-tooled title. Parchment flyleaves (formerly pastedowns) from a Missal (England, 15th century) much rubbed and worn, and with offset impression from original binding of corner tongues and four attachments. Gothic textura. Fine blue initials with intricate herringbone penwork designs in red. Headings in red; paragraph marks in blue.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Paris, Matthew, 1200-1259.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval, Missals, and History
Manuscript on parchment of documents relating to the foundation of a Hospital for the Blind, by the Church of Saint Lorena in Burgos, 15 March 1479. Mostly dealing with the donation or sale of houses for the Hospital
Description:
In Spanish., Script: Written by a single scribe in a highly abbreviated Spanish Gothic cursive script with many later notes and additions., and Decoration: A miniature on f. 2r depicts the hospital, its patron Saint Lorena, and a blind man, with the legend "hospital de los ciegos". Illuminated initials with marginal extensions ff. 2v and 7v. Illuminated arms on f. 8r within roundel with the letters "c b".
Subject (Geographic):
Spain, Connecticut, and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Blind, Hospitals, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of genealogies of families of Curtiss, Barnes, Newell, Potter, Woodruff, and Hart in Connecticut, particularly from the towns of Southington and Farmington. The volume includes copies of wills; land deeds; detailed accounts of where they resided; and personal anecdotes, including family members' involvement in religious activities; the American Revolution; and the Civil War. The manuscript notes the marriage of Hawkins Hart of Wallingford to Mary Widow of Street, "grand daugthter of Rev John Eliot the Apostle to the Indians, Author of a translation of the Bible into the Indian language ..."
Description:
In English., Tipped in: dealer's description of manuscript., Seventeen leaves at the beginning left blank., Laid in at p. 178: newspaper clipping of "the only complete record now existing of citizens of Southington who enlisted in the late War of the Rebellion.", Laid in at p. 341: small square of embroidered cloth., Paper blind-embossed stamp: Congress J. Smith., and Binding: machine-grain black morocco.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and Missouri
Subject (Name):
Andrews, Gad, b. 1803., Barnes family., Curtis family., Hart family., Newell family., Potter family., Woodruff family., and Yale College (1718-1887)
Subject (Topic):
Alumni and alumnae, Genealogy, History, and Religious life and customs
Manuscript on parchment (many holes and repairs) of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by several hands of different appearances, perhaps by scribes of varying ages or at different dates. The scripts range from rounded to angular minuscule., Plain orange initial, 7- to 2-line; heading and chapter notations (in margins) in same shade. Guide-letters and notes for rubricator., and Binding: 16th-17th centuries (?). Sewn on three supports laced into wooden boards. The spine is slightly rounded and lined, the lining extending onto the inside of the boards. Covered with white pigskin, blind-tooled. Two fastenings, the catches on the upper board. On the fore-edge of the lower cover is a notation contemporary with binding: "Gesta anglorum bede." Appears to have been bound at the Benedictine abbey of St. Martin of Spanheim in the diocese of Mainz.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735.
Subject (Topic):
Church history, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History