Add MS 78173

EVELYN PAPERS. Vol. VI. Accounts of John Barker, merchant, with the Earl of Leicester; May 1576-Feb. 1579/80. Autograph, signed on final page. These record credits and debits for ships registered in various English ports, viz: the White Bear, the Nicholas of Barnstaple, Robert of Bristol, the James, John the Evangelist, Margaret and Prudence of London, the Kathryn of Millbrook, the Rose of Newcastle and the Minion of Plymouth, trading to Seville, Cadiz, Jerez [de la Frontera] and Sanlucar de Barrameda [=Andalusia]. At the end is a final reckoning by Barker of his debt to ‘my singuler good lord’, with a signed note of money owed to Leicester that has been ‘putt owt By exchange’. For two letters from Barker to Leicester, 28 April, 10 June 1578, see Cotton MS Vespasian C. VIII, ff. 362, 371. Text transcribed in a single cursive secretary hand, with marginal additions calculations in another. Docketed on the first page in Evelyn’s hand’. Formerly Evelyn MS 257.

ff. 14. Single gathering, with xii-xiv stubs only. Watermark crowned shield bearing letter B above compartment with name of Nicolas Lebé, similar to Briquet 8077-8081 (from documents dated 1566-1582). Contemporary foliation from 1 to 10 beginning after first leaf. 430 x 295 mm.