BIB_ID
283985
Accession number
MA 289
Creator
Walsingham, Francis, Sir, 1530?-1590.
Display Date
ca. 1587.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
1 item (17 p.) ; 29.9 cm
Notes
Letter mentions Philip II of Spain and his ambassador to England, Don Bernardino De Mentoza.
Manuscript transcribed by two hands; title in mixed hand. Pages ruled in red and with catchwords throughout.
Watermark: Page 5. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, with crescent moon at top. Two variants present. Watermark, beta radiograph. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, with crescent moon at top, p.5. 283985wm_MA289_p5_WM_beta.jpg
Watermark: Page 7. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, crown and crescent moon at top. Possible twin mark. Watermark, beta radiograph. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, with crown and crescent moon at top, p.7. 283985wm_MA289_p7_WM_beta.jpg
Manuscript transcribed by two hands; title in mixed hand. Pages ruled in red and with catchwords throughout.
Watermark: Page 5. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, with crescent moon at top. Two variants present. Watermark, beta radiograph. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, with crescent moon at top, p.5. 283985wm_MA289_p5_WM_beta.jpg
Watermark: Page 7. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, crown and crescent moon at top. Possible twin mark. Watermark, beta radiograph. Pot with one handle, curved base, letters IQQ inside, with crown and crescent moon at top, p.7. 283985wm_MA289_p7_WM_beta.jpg
Provenance
From the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps (no. 4907); John Scott sale (London, Sotheby's, March 1905, lot 1435) to Quaritch; purchased by Pierpont Morgan from the London dealer J. Pearson & Co. in 1906.
Summary
Concerning potential retaliation by James VI and I against England in response to the recent beheading of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. Expressing sorrow at any potential "alienac[i]on in the kinge your Sou[er]eignes mynde and of that people from the Amitie of this Realme" (p. 1); advising that it would "bee everye waie best for his Maiestie to forbeare such a desperate and violent Course as maye render him subiecte to soe manie hazards and inconveniences where on the other side Carryeinge [sic] himselfe w[i]th that moderac[i]on that becometh a Prince of his perfections and educac[i]on and is necessary in this remediles accident" (p. 7). Also hinting that "the advancem[en]t of such a one to this Crowne who [would be] soe much the more mightie by the Vnion of the two Crownes" (p. 10), and advising that "it shall be the more his for honor assuredly, to show howe [being shee is nowe deade,] he Can modderate his passion by ... reason" (p. 17).
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