PAPERS OF 'SIR' RICHARD BIDLAKE OF BIDLAKE, DEVON

Papers of Richard Bidlake. They include correspondence, some of which is on military or naval matters; medical recipes, including flysheets advertising potions; legal papers and subsidiary documents concerning Bidlake's bankruptcies, court appearances and the like; account books of personal expenses; advertisements for literary ventures; and a list of voters and election expenses.

Printed material; some were tied into bundles alphabetically, of which only B and L have survived intact.

Richard Bidlake appears to have been a professional charlatan and litigant, the latter as both plaintiff and as defendant. His 'knighthood' was self-appointed.