ff. 1r–56v: A volume of alchemical verses and treatises written in chronological order, including George Ripley's Compound of Alchemy. ff. 1v–2r: Poems in Latin about alchemy. ff. 2v–3v: The Boast of Mercury. Begins 'I am [Mercury] most mighty & flos florum', ends 'Seke forth folys as ye h...
Illustrated prayer book, in various languages, dated 1578 and presented to Queen Elizabeth I for New Year. Written in inks of various colours, with illuminated titles and initials. Possibly presented by William Absolon (Lawson, ‘This Remembrance of the New Year’, p. 143). Previously also associ...
A genealogical chronicle of the kings of England to Edward IV
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A genealogical chronicle, formerly in concertina format, now a codex. Contents: An abbreviated version in English of a genealogical chronicle from Adam to the beginning of the reign of Edward IV, of the type known as the 'Considerans' chronicle, named from the opening words of the Latin prol...
Warrants, official and private letters from the reigns of Henry IV to James VI and I
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ff. 1r–86v: Original papers, warrants, official and private letters, from the reigns of Henry IV to James I and VI. The volume includes several letters from abbots of monasteries before the Dissolution, the reports to the Privy Council of Commissioners appointed to take account of Church goods i...
Collection of original orders and warrants, chiefly by King Henry VIII and Thomas Wolsey, the King’s Almoner. Dating from between 1512 and 1515. Principally addressed to John Daunce, Treasurer for War. Concerning payments to English and foreign merchants for victualling the army in Spain, the s...
This is a miscellaneous collection of 16th- and early 17th-century correspondence. It incudes one holograph letter of Sir Philip Sidney from Flushing [Vlissingen] in 1586 (ff. 50r-v), and a copy of a letter from the Irish chieftain Florence MacCarthy Reagh [Finian Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach] to Sir ...
Catalogue of state papers (‘Walsingham’s Table Book’)
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Catalogue of manuscripts and state papers in the possession of Sir Francis Walsingham, principal secretary of state (c. 1532-1590). In the hand of Sir Thomas Lake, administrator and politician (bap. 1561, d. 1630), private secretary to Walsingham. Dated 1588 (f. 3v). The papers relate chiefly t...
Papers of Thomas Edmondes, Agent at the French Court, 1592-1596 and n.d., volume 1
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Edmonde Papers, vol. 1, 18 June 1592-16 May 1596. This volume includes letters from William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Sir Robert Cecil and Sir John Norris, commander in Brittany, to Thomas Edmondes. Much of this volume comprises drafts (described on the endorsements as copies or minutes) of t...
Edmondes Papers, volume 2: English diplomatic correspondence, 1597-1605, including the reports of Thomas Edmondes, Ralph Winwood and Dudley Carleton in France; negotiations with the Spanish Netherlands; and letters of Ralph Winwood as Ambassador to the Dutch Republic
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Edmondes Papers, volume 2, 26 October 1597-20 March 1605. Thomas Edmondes had been English agent at the French Court from 1592 to 1595 (he was also Secretary there before and after). He had returned to England in May or June 1596, returning to France on special missions in late March and early ...
Papers of Sir Thomas Edmondes, Vol. 5: 28 Mar 1608-23 Mar 1609
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Papers of Sir Thomas Edmondes (d. 1639), diplomat: Vol. 5: 28 Mar 1608-23 Mar 1609. Edmondes was in this period Ambassador to the Spanish Netherlands, to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, at Brussels. The great majority of the letters here are originals, with some drafts by Edmondes, usually ...