47 letters and documents, on paper (one document on parchment) in various cursive scripts, produced in England between 1554 and 1706. Mostly from the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods, they consist of claims for expenses, wages, and other benefits. They include an account of a banquet (15 November 1561), signed by the Marquis of Winchester and Sir Walter Mildmay; a Claim for Allowances (1563) by Sir Thomas Chaloner, Ambassador to Spain; L. S. (1578) by Lord Burgley about money to be sent to Ireland and mentioning Sir Philip Sidney; A. L. S. (1597) by George, Lord Hunsdon; A. K. S. (Chester, 11 Aug. 1601) by the antiquary and mathematician Edward Brerewood to the Privy Council. The documents also include signatures of other government officials and nobles and The documents derive from the papers of Robert Petre, Auditor for the Exchequer, and his colleague Vincent Skinner
Description:
In English. and Binding: Middle Hill boards, spine missing.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603., James I, King of England, 1566-1625., and Great Britain. Exchequer.
Manuscript, on parchment, in chancery script, produced in London at the beginning of the sixteenth century (during the reign of Henry VII)., The text is an affirmation by King Henry VII of the rights given to the city of London by previous kings, It includes a copy of the charter in Old English presented by William the Conqueror affirming the rights held by the citizens of London under Edward the Confessor, and It also includes a charter granting lands from William I to Deorman
Description:
In Latin and Old English., On the wrapper is written "Thomas Binkheued who sold it to Raph Wilbraham.", The manuscript was originally a roll, as can be seen by the sewing holes extending across the bottom of each page., and Binding: vellum wrapper.
Subject (Geographic):
England, London., England., Great Britain, and London (England)
Anonymous manuscript copy of Hoby's travel narrative, then unpublished, describing journeys into Italy, Germany, and France. Also contains anecdotes of Lady Jane Dudley, known as Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554), and her conversation with John de Feckenham
Description:
Possibly transcribed by or for James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-1889). and Paper WM 1842.
Subject (Name):
Hoby, Thomas, Sir, 1530-1566.
Subject (Topic):
Courts and courtiers and Travelers' writings, English
Manuscript on paper containing 1) Propugnaculum alchymiae, the Defence of alchymy. 2) The first (second, third, fourth) booke of universall wisedome. 3) Hercules piochymicus. 4) Myrothecium spagyricum, or A chymicall dispensatory
Description:
In English., Script: Written in a clear cursive hand with some secretary elements., Watermarks: Paper with rather faint large watermark of a fleur-de-lys within a cartouche, surmounted by staff with cross and letter "M," not certainly identified., Very moderate abbreviation, headlines and marginalia throughout by the scribe., Anonymously translated into English., Accompanied by: By the King's letters patent. A machine on a new principle. Shelved as Mellon MSS 76a., and Binding: Early eighteenth-century English binding of parchment over pasteboards, somewhat unglued and with defects, the backstrip divided into eight compartments by raised bands, the compartments gold-tooled with floral motifs; binder's endpapers watermarked with a fleur-de-lys mark, countermarked "VI," closely related to Heawood 1544, 1552, and 1554.
Manuscript on paper of a collection of texts by Nicolas de Locques, in which practical laboratory procedures are mingled with speculative and mystical alchemy
Description:
In French., Script: Written in a practiced scribal hand in a flowing cursive sloping to the right with infrequent standard abbreviation; a second similar, but finer hand on p. 358 only., Watermarks: Paper with unidentified watermark of a griffin rampant (?), the hind paws on a staff incorporating letters and numbers "Y49" (?), countermarked with 2 lines of capitals, the first word perhaps "JUVIMAL" (sic)., and Binding: Original French binding of mottled calf, the sides plain, the edges of the covers gilt-stamped a la grotesque, back (repaired and restored at foot) with seven bands, the compartments gilt-stamped to a rectangular pattern, a lozenge of leafy sprays in the center of each, with triangular elements of the same at the corners, original title label in the second compartment from the top, marbled endpapers, edges speckled red.
Manuscript, on paper, in cursive bookhand, produced in England and dated May 27, 1582
Description:
In English., A note on f. 18v reads: "A verry tratoroos Worke pretended to bee the answers of Peyres Plowman to the prynted interrogatores of alleageaunce. Butt in treuthe a Waye to instruct papists how to answer tratorooslye & defende the trators for Martyrs that dyed at Tyburne in August 1582.", and Binding: vellum wrapper, with front cover cut away.
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Name):
Langland, William, 1330?-1400?
Subject (Topic):
Catholic Church and Tyburn gallows (London, England).
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a diary of a journey from Dublin to England and then to Cork, written in a lighthearted and sometimes satirical manner. Traveling with his father, his friend Valerius, and a servant, the Irish author records his impressions in England of churches he visits; where he takes his meals; and the inhabitants he meets. After describing several churches in Liverpool, he writes, "I am broke of in this Part of my Description, as I think by some simpering or laughing; but on Enquiry I am supris'd to find it's some of my Female Acquaintance," which causes him, he writes, to lose the spirit to continue with his description. Elsewhere, he visits silk mills and describes the cost and workings of the machinery. At Nottingham, he notes that "most of the Inhabitants here are Presbyterians and I really believe I was in five different Meetings which I mistook for Churches, and at Length was so much vexed at being so often disappointed that I protested against looking further for one." Throughout, he records numerous encounters with women, including a landlord's daughter with whom he carries on a flirtation. The narrative is prefaced by an introduction addressed to "Madam," in which he speaks disapprovingly of women's coquetry, and mocks "our country-women who have been abroad," who "commonly return Home with Variety of odd Pronunciations, particular Gestures, & new Fashions, perhaps never known in any Part of the World, but the Production of their own fertile Brain."
Description:
Author of the manuscript is an unknown Irishman., In English., Index at end of manuscript., Leather oval bookplate inside front cover: Ex Musaeo Huthii., and Binding: full morocco; gilt decoration. Printed on spine: Narrative of a journey through England. MS. 1752.
Subject (Geographic):
England, Liverpool (England), London (England), and Nottingham (England)
Subject (Topic):
English wit and humor, Travelers' writings, English, Women, Conduct of life, Description and travel, and Buildings, structures, etc