Autograph letter signed from William Cecil, Baron Burghley, to Robert Devereux, Earl of Leicester [manuscript], 1597 21 May.
Items
Details
Title
Autograph letter signed from William Cecil, Baron Burghley, to Robert Devereux, Earl of Leicester [manuscript], 1597 21 May.
Description
1 item
Associated name
Burghley, William Cecil, Baron, 1520-1598, correspondent.
Essex, Robert Devereux, Earl of, 1566-1601, recipient.
Pirie, Robert S., former owner.
Essex, Robert Devereux, Earl of, 1566-1601, recipient.
Pirie, Robert S., former owner.
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Folger-specific note
Curatorial file available.
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England
Item Details
Call number
V.b.392
Folger-specific note
Sotheby's catalog description: Autograph letter signed ("W Burghley"), to Robert Devereux, Second Earl of Essex. Writing when "lame in my bed and yet occupyed with many other matters and specially with the sondry gredy offers of sondry Merchants to be dealers for apparrellyng of the soldiers in the low Countries," informing Devereux that "sir walter ralegh had my bill for 3000 l." and detailing further payments to be made to Raleigh, 1 page, folio, "at Court," 21 May 1597, integral address leaf, contemporary docketing ("L Tre[asurer] 21 May 97"); seal tears and splitting at folds professionally conserved. Green slipcase and morocco-backed folding-box. Sotheby's catalog note: A letter bringing together Burghley, Essex, and Raleigh, three of the greatest figures of the Elizabethan age. Burghley was by this time an old and sick man but remained Lord Treasurer and was still a crucial presence in an increasing febrile court, which was dangerously split into volatile factions. Essex and Raleigh were enemies and rivals who had been temporarily united by leadership of a naval fleet that aimed to seize a Spanish port and capture the silver fleet. The funds for Raleigh referred to in this letter were almost certainly for this expedition, which was then in preparation. The "Islands Voyage" -- which included John Donne amongst its participants -- sailed in July and ended in disaster. Sotheby's provenance note: Sotheby's, 28 March 1983, lot 35 -- Sotheby's, 13 December 1990, lot 346. acquisition: Purchased [by Pirie] at the foregoing sale through Bernard Quaritch. Acquired at the Robert S. Pirie sale, Sotheby's, New York, 2-4 December 2015, lot 125.
Folger accession
269364