Manuscripts, in a single hand, containing copies of 373 letters arranged in chronological order and dated between 1641 and 1688, and extra-illustrated with many prints and drawings, primarily engraved portraits of the correspondents. The letters in the first volume are addressed to William Legge, and mainly discuss political and military activities, including tactics during the English Civil War; correspondents include Sir William Davenant and King Charles I. This volume also contains numerous letters concerning the marriage negotations of John Butler, 1st Earl of Gowran, the son of the Duke of Ormonde, The letters are annotated in red ink. The work is prefaced by a letter to William, 4th Earl of Dartmouth, by Bagot, Dartmouth's relative, The second volume contains letters addressed to Legge's son, George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth, which primarily concern political affairs. Many letters are from James II, which refer to his exile and his attempts to return to England. Others mention the Rye House Plot; congratulate Dartmouth on becoming Master of the Ordinance; and discuss opposition to King Charles II. Several letters request Dartmouth's help in releasing Philip, Baron Wharton from the Tower, The third volume contains letters addressed to Baron Dartmouth, which primarily concern preparations for a naval resistance to the expected invasion by William, Prince of Orange. Letters include instructions from the Admiralty naming Dartmouth an Admiral of the fleet and instructing him to oppose William's landing; and letters from James II and Samuel Pepys providing rumors and information on the movements of William's fleet, and The fourth volume contains 98 letters (copies) to and from George Legge, 1st baron Dartmouth, 1648-1691. Followed by papers written by Lord Dartmouth during his confinement in the Tower of London, and an appendix
Description:
Bagot, William, second Baron Bagot (1773-1856), was an antiquary. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and of the Linnean, Horticultural, and Zoological societies. In 1824 he published Memorials of the Bagot Family. His second wife was Lady Louisa Legge, eldest daughter of his cousin the third earl of Dartmouth. He died in 1856 at his home in Staffordshire., George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth (1647-1691) was a naval officer and the eldest son of William Legge., William Legge (1609?-1670) was a royalist army officer and close associate of Prince Rupert, nephew of King Charles I., Finding aid available., Portion available on microfilm, In English., On title page: Letters To and From, Coll. Willm. Legge. Transcribed From the Originals, in the possession of William Fourth Earl of Dartmouth; at Sandwell, in the County of Stafford, during the Autum, and Winter of the years 1816 and 1817. by William, 2d. Lord Bagot., Pasted opposite title page: hand-colored engraving of Col. William Legge., Sticker inside front covers: No. 24B., At beginning of 1st volume: table of contents of the prints and drawings., Volume 3 includes blue silk page markers., Binding: full calf; gilt and blind-tooled decoration. Armorial binding on cover., and In gilt on spine: Letters to and from George Ld. Dartmouth. MS.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685., James II, King of England, 1633-1701., Rupert, Prince, Count Palatine, 1619-1682., William III, King of England, 1650-1702., Bagot, William Bagot, Baron, 1773-1856., Dartmouth, George Legge, Baron, 1648-1691., D'Avenant, William, 1606-1668., Legge, William, 1609?-1670., Pepys, Samuel, 1633-1703., Wharton, Philip, 4th baron Wharton, 1613-1696., Great Britain. Army., Great Britain. Parliament., and Great Britain. Royal Navy.
Subject (Topic):
Rye House Plot, 1683, Court and courtiers, History, and Politics and government
Manuscript on paper of mercantile statutes of Florence in three Books, revised by a committee of experts and promulgated by Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici of Tuscany (1574-1587); the basis for the revision were the statutes of 1393 ("statuto vecchio") and those of 1496 ("statuto nuovo").
Description:
In Italian., Script: Copied by one scribe in sloping calligraphic Humanistica Cursiva., On the frontispiece f. r, a woodcut title-page with spaces for text (a handwritten title) left blank. The full-page woodcut represents the ruins and symbols of Rome with the god of the Tibre under a portico with five allegorical female figures., The paper of most pages is damaged by the corrosive ink., and Binding (repaired): ca. 1700. White parchment over pasteboard. Spine with four raised bands and handwritten title in ink: "Statut. / Florent. / M.S.". Bordeaux edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Florence (Italy)
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Statutes, and Politics and government
Manuscript on paper of a facsimile of Iohannes Calderia (Giovanni Calderia, 15th century), member of a Venetian family, Politica (De praestantia Venetae politiae libri V ad Antonium Vinciguerra).
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by one hand in Humanistica Semitextualis Libraria., No decoration; the space provided for the initials is not used., Each page consists of two leaves of extremely thin paper pasted together. The paper is now dark brown and brittle (causing loss of text in the lower margins of pp. 1-6). For reasons of conservation the bifolios have now been cut into singletons and these have been encapsulated in transparent Mylar sleeves united in an album., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Kept separately. Marbled brown leather over pasteboard, each cover decorated with a gold-tooled floral border and gold-tooled doublure margin; gold-tooled spine with paper label containing the hand-written number "24068". Marbled paste-downs.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Venice (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Calderia, Giovanni.
Subject (Topic):
Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Politics and government
Manuscript on paper of records of the notary Branca de Bagnaria, dealing with the heritage of Giovanni Doria ("de Auria") claimed by Catarineta Doria, daughter of the late Dorino Doria, represented by her husband Araonus (or Alaonus) Marocellus. The court met on an almost daily basis from 22 Jan. to 23 Oct. 1444, less frequently from 18 March 1445 to 17 Nov. 1446, and at long intervals up to 17 June 1465
Description:
In Latin., Script: Various scribes, writing various forms of Gothica Semihybrida Currens generally difficult to decipher., No decoration., and Binding: Original limp parchment register with flap and wrapping band (partly replaced by cord) closing over the front cover, badly damaged (the upper part of the front cover torn away and a large hole in the rear cover and flap).
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Genoa (Italy)
Subject (Topic):
Court records, Manuscripts, Medieval, Probate records, and Politics and government
Manuscript on parchment (one leaf and one interior tagged leaf) of the record of proceedings confirming the claim of Robert Bogas to a property in Brantham, Suffolk, against Queen Elizabeth I's assumption of the rights in wardship for Henry Moptyde
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in English chancery script., and Wax seal.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Court records, Land titles, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Politics and government
Holograph diary recording Macartney's embassy to China between September 11, 1792 and January 15, 1794. The first volume narrates his journey to China; embarking on board a man-of-war from London, he lists the members of his train; describes his stop in Madeira, where he dines with the governor, visits the gardens, and attends a ball. He then stops at Tenerife, where he learns of "barbarities committed by the blacks" in St. Domingo; and continues with stops at St. Iago; Rio de Janeiro; and the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul. Throughout, he provides summaries of the island's history, inhabitants, agriculture, and interesting flora and fauna. The volume concludes with two essays on trade and commerce, one on avarice and the other explaining differences of custom and manners between Chinese and Europeans which cause difficulties in conducting trade. This latter treatise is preceded by a petition by "Tong-Foo and Buble-me-qua" asking for aid in recovering debts owed them by English merchants and The second volume begins with a brief summary of the journey from England, but focuses primarily on his time in China. He describes, in detail, the reception he receives from the local dignitaries upon his arrival in China; the activities and machinations of the court and courtiers; the architecture; social life and customs; missionary work in China; British foreign relations with China; and especially his own opinions concerning cultural differences in negotiating with various members of the court. The volume concludes with his opinion on how to preserve the diplomatic ground lately gained in China. At the beginning of the first manuscript is an inscription, "This journal was written by Lord Macartney on board the Lion merely for his own amusement and to pass away some tedious hours of a very long sea voyage."
Description:
In English., Watermark on paper: 1803., Marbled endpapers in vol. 1., and Binding: vol. 1: full vellum. Vol. 2: half vellum; back board is covered with marbled paper. Written on spine of vol. 2: Embassy to China.
Subject (Geographic):
Amsterdam Island (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises), China, Great Britain., Great Britain, China., Madeira Islands, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Saint Paul Island (Indian Ocean), and Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Subject (Name):
Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Diplomatic and consular service, British, Travelers' writings, English, Commerce, Court and courtiers, Description and travel, Foreign relations, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
Holograph diary recording Macartney's embassy to China between September 11, 1792 and January 15, 1794. The first volume narrates his journey to China; embarking on board a man-of-war from London, he lists the members of his train; describes his stop in Madeira, where he dines with the governor, visits the gardens, and attends a ball. He then stops at Tenerife, where he learns of "barbarities committed by the blacks" in St. Domingo; and continues with stops at St. Iago; Rio de Janeiro; and the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul. Throughout, he provides summaries of the island's history, inhabitants, agriculture, and interesting flora and fauna. The volume concludes with two essays on trade and commerce, one on avarice and the other explaining differences of custom and manners between Chinese and Europeans which cause difficulties in conducting trade. This latter treatise is preceded by a petition by "Tong-Foo and Buble-me-qua" asking for aid in recovering debts owed them by English merchants and The second volume begins with a brief summary of the journey from England, but focuses primarily on his time in China. He describes, in detail, the reception he receives from the local dignitaries upon his arrival in China; the activities and machinations of the court and courtiers; the architecture; social life and customs; missionary work in China; British foreign relations with China; and especially his own opinions concerning cultural differences in negotiating with various members of the court. The volume concludes with his opinion on how to preserve the diplomatic ground lately gained in China. At the beginning of the first manuscript is an inscription, "This journal was written by Lord Macartney on board the Lion merely for his own amusement and to pass away some tedious hours of a very long sea voyage."
Description:
In English., Watermark on paper: 1803., Marbled endpapers in vol. 1., and Binding: vol. 1: full vellum. Vol. 2: half vellum; back board is covered with marbled paper. Written on spine of vol. 2: Embassy to China.
Subject (Geographic):
Amsterdam Island (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises), China, Great Britain., Great Britain, China., Madeira Islands, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Saint Paul Island (Indian Ocean), and Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Subject (Name):
Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Diplomatic and consular service, British, Travelers' writings, English, Commerce, Court and courtiers, Description and travel, Foreign relations, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
Manuscript on parchment of a Ducale issued in the name of Leonardo Loredan, doge of Venice (1438-1521), giving instructions to Andrea Marcello as Governor of Dulcigno (now Ulcinj, Yugoslavia). The document is dated 8 August 1513, and signed by "Victor Blanchus Secretarius," the same individual who signed Beinecke MS 104, a Venetian ducale dated 1515. On ff. 12v-13r is a directive from the Venetian Council of the X, signed by Rafael Iordannis, regarding Andrea Marcello, captain of Dulcingo, and the payment of custom duties; followed by a yearly and quarterly outline of salaries owed, in a different but contemporary hand, signed Zune (Giovanni) Spineli [?].
Description:
In Latin and Italian., Script: Written in elegant italic., One full border (f. 1r), flowers and swirling leaves extending from a vase in lower right corner, gold on a dark purple ground, executed in a style related to Benedetto Bordone; two inset panels at top of folio (framed by thick gold bands), the upper containing the lion of St. Mark stepping out of water and holding an open book, dolphins, and a castle on a cliff in the background, the lower an inscription in gold majuscules on blue ground. In lower margin the Marcello arms (azure a bend wavy or) against a landscape., 2-line initials, on f. 1r only, gold on green and on red grounds respectively. 1-line initials, red, for ff. 1v-10r., and Binding: 19th-20th centuries. Rigid vellum gold-tooled.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Venice (Italy)
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Politics and government
Manuscript on paper, in a single hand, containing a brief box-level inventory of muniments stored at Thornbury Castle by the third Duke of Buckingham. Items listed include a box "with my lordys pedygrese;" two boxes "with evidence concerynynge a Chauntrie in Newport;" a box of indulgences, pardons and licences; a box of writings concerning a voyage to France made by the first Duke of Buckingham in 1437; boxes of documents relating to the marriages of the Duke's son and daughter; and a variety of boxes of land grants, charters, and deeds and Title added to document in another contemporary hand (possibly after the execution of the Duke in 1521?).
Description:
In English., Annotations on verso in a 17th century hand; 6p. of annotations concerning the genealogy of English noble families in the same hand attached to the inventory., and Accompanied by typed transcript.
Subject (Geographic):
England. and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Buckingham, Edward Stafford, Duke of, 1478-1521
Subject (Topic):
Archives, Family archives, Nobility, and Politics and government