Add MS 78177

ff. 1r–84r: Volume X of the Evelyn Papers. ‘An Inventory Booke aswell of Plate Asalso of Hanginges...and other furniture of Houshold of...Therle of Leicesters...as remayneth in the chardge of Dyvers Persons in sundrye his Lordshippes Places Maii 1582...’, c. January–June 1582.

Included are lists of goods in Leicester House, in Wanstead House, drawn up by Nicolas Webber, 12 January ‘1582’, at Kenilworth Castle, 12 June 1582, and Grafton, 16 June 1582, both compiled by Thomas Underhill, and at Stoke Newington (‘Newington Inne’), co. Middx. Items at Leicester House include ‘A Lowe chayre of wallnuttree’, with John Evelyn’s autograph note that ‘This Chayre is now at Wotton in Surry: J.E.’, along with maps, globes, books, portraits and other pictures. Amongst the latter are ‘One smale pycture of Therle of Essex’ [Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex], and ‘One of Mr Phillipp Sydney when he was a Boye’. At Kenilworth the furnishings included tapestries depicting biblical subjects, portraits of foreign dignitaries and musical intruments. A number of the items were gifts received at New Year 1581: others carry notes of transfer from other houses (e.g. Grafton, and Bennington, Hertfordshire.). A few early entries carry notes of condition and of items imperfect, lost or stolen, while occasional additions are made in a current hand. For inventories of Leicester’s goods at Leicester House, Wanstead and Kenilworth, 1588–1589, see Harley Rolls D.35, I–XI, which include the 232 books listed by W. E. Moss, Bindings from the Library of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (1934). Text copied within ruled compartment in a single squareish secretary hand, with calligraphic lettering for main title and flourished initials throughout. Formerly Evelyn MS 264.

Parchment pastedown leaves from a service book.