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"The copy of a letter written by a master of arts of Cambridge to his friends..."...

Catalogue reference: HMS/4/14

What’s it about?

This record is a file about the "The copy of a letter written by a master of arts of Cambridge to his friends..."... dating from n.d. [c.1584].

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Full description and record details

Reference
HMS/4/14
Title
"The copy of a letter written by a master of arts of Cambridge to his friends..." [Leicester's commonwealth] (Hardwick MS 83)
Date
n.d. [c.1584]
Description

This scribal manuscript entitled "The copy of a letter written by a master of Arts of Cambridge to his friends in London concerning some talk past of late between two worshipful and grave men about the present State and some proceedings of the Earl of Leicester and his friends in England" is dated 1548 suggesting it is a copy of the original edition, not the 1641 edition.

The anonymous book relays supposed scurrilous behaviour and misdeeds of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in the form of a conversation between three men - a scholar, a gentleman and a lawyer. It is as an attack against Dudley and his ambitions. This copy includes marginal notes detailing the main subjects of the text. It is written in the same hand throughout.

Note

A transcription of this text can be found online via the Oxford Authorship website: http://www.oxford-shakespeare.com/Leicester/Leicesters_Commonwealth_1584.pdf.

Held by
Devonshire Collection Archives, Chatsworth
Former department reference
HM/83
Physical description
1 volume; 61 folios (122pp)
Dimensions
212(w) x 314(h) x 18(d) mm
Physical condition
Sewn booklet with an envelope-style cover made from a piece of re-used parchment covered in 16th-century handwriting.
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/98d9e9a7-9e7e-43f5-8a85-7b8d19a73a8c/

Series information

HMS/4

Manuscripts

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Catalogue hierarchy

9,906 records
157 records

Within the fonds: HMS

Hardwick Manuscripts

42 records

Within the series: HMS/4

Manuscripts

You are currently looking at the file: HMS/4/14

"The copy of a letter written by a master of arts of Cambridge to his friends..." [Leicester's commonwealth] (Hardwick MS 83)