Harley MS 2436

Origin:

England.

Provenance:

Roger Fyshmore (b. c. 1570, d. 1620), of Exeter, late 16th century or early 17th century: his ownership inscription on f. 14r (lower margin): 'By me Roger ffyshmore - Thys is Roger Fyshmore hys booke Record of Martyn Fyshmore'; ff. 15r, 15v (2x): 'Thys ys Roger fyshmore his booke'; and f. 16r: 'Thys ys Roger fyshmore hys [?]byle Record of John Roussell and of John uphere and of mand [sic] more in the [...]ole of Exseter - Amen' (not in Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), but noted by Watson, 'Review' (1973), p. 606); previously unidentified but probably Roger Fishmore (b. c. 1570, d. 1620), who was born in Devon, married Alice Chardon, and is listed in a lease for land in Exeter (St Sidwells), dated 1608, now in Devon Archives; the previously untranscribed note on f. 16r which locates him to Exeter supports this identification.

John Russell, of Exeter [?], late 16th century or early 17th century: his ownership inscription on f. 14v: 'This is John Russell his boc'; f. 15r: 'This is John Russell Record of Malerd [...]'; f. 16v: 'Russell his bock Record Peter'; and perhaps also ff. 26v-27r; his name on f. 16v: 'John Russell' (not in Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972); or Watson 'Review' (1973), p. 606); a note on f. 16r associates him both with Roger Fyshmore and John Upham ['Uphere']; a draft letter in his hand on f. 16r: 'Ryght wellbeloved father and mother I have mi most hartili Commendacions unto you and uf that wyll ples you that you woud sen [sic] me a p [end of text]'.

John Upham [or 'Uphere'], of Exeter [?], late 16th century or early 17th century: his ownership inscription on f. 16v: 'This is John upham [end of inscription]'; and his name on f. 16v: 'John uph[...]'; probably the same 'John Uphere' who is associated with Roger Fyshmore and John Russell on f. 16r (not in Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972); or Watson 'Review' (1973), p. 606).

Robert Burscough (b. 1650/51, d.1709), prebendary of Exeter in 1701, archdeacon of Barnstaple in 1703, rector of Cheriton Bishop in 1705: sold by his widow on 17 May 1715 to Robert Harley, along with other manuscripts (see Diary, ed. by Wright and Wright (1966)I, p. 11 n. 6; Wright, Fontes Harleiani (1972), pp. 87-88).

The Harley Collection, formed by Robert Harley (b. 1661, d. 1724), 1st earl of Oxford and Mortimer, politician, and Edward Harley (b. 1689, d. 1741), 2nd earl of Oxford and Mortimer, book collector and patron of the arts, inscribed as usual by their librarian, Humfrey Wanley ‘17 Maij, A.D. 1715’ (f. 1r).

Edward Harley bequeathed the library to his widow, Henrietta Cavendish, née Holles (b. 1694, d. 1755) during her lifetime and thereafter to their daughter, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (b. 1715, d. 1785), duchess of Portland; the manuscripts were sold by the Countess and the Duchess in 1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library.