Manuscript, in a single hand, of a letterbook containing several hundred diplomatic letters from Paris and dated between 16 August 1684 and 22 August 1685, during the time of Preston’s stint as envoy extraordinary to the court of France. The letters report on the Truce of Ratisbon; the French decision to declare an English vessel captured by privateers as "a good prize"; and imminent ratifications to be exchanged between France and Spain. Other letters mention Preston’s attempts to obtain redress for English citizens in France; and some letters contain personal information, as in a note in 1684 which mentions his wife’s pregnancy and his son’s illness. The principal recipient of the letters is Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland; other recipients include George Fitzroy, Duke of Northumberland; George Savile, 1st Marquis of Halifax; George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon; Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle; Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton; Sir Thomas Exton; Sir Stephen Fox; Sir Christopher Musgrave; and Sir John Werden (Worden).
Description:
Blanks not scanned. and Several errors in pagination.
Subject (Geographic):
France --Court and courtiers, France --Foreign relations --Great Britain, France --Politics and government, Great Britain --Foreign relations --France, and Great Britain --Intellectual life --17th century
Subject (Name):
Carlisle, Charles Howard, 1st earl of, 1629-1685, Exton, Thomas, Sir, 1631-1688, Fox, Stephen, Sir, 1627-1716, Gordon, George Gordon, Duke of, 1649-1716, Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of, 1633-1695, Louis XIV, King of France, 1638-1715, Middleton, Charles Middleton, 2d earl of, 1650?-1719, Musgrave, Christopher, Sir, 1632?-1704, Northumberland, George Fitzroy, Duke of, 1665-1716, Preston, Richard Graham, Viscount, 1648-1695, Sunderland, Robert Spencer, 2d Earl of, 1640-1702, and Werden, John, Sir, 1640-1716
Manuscript on paper, in a single hand, of diplomatic, social, political, and commercial affairs in Europe, especially among members of the Triple Alliance, France, and Spain. Written while Montagu was British ambassador in Paris.
Description:
Binding: contemporary parchment., Laid in: a note listing expenses for "Mr. Blaishwaite from the 28th of November to the 5th of December.", and Numerous blanks not digitized.
Subject (Geographic):
Europe --Politics and government --1648-1715, France --Foreign relations --Great Britain, Great Britain --Foreign relations --1660-1688, and Great Britain --Foreign relations --France
Subject (Name):
Louis XIV, King of France, 1638-1715 and Montagu, Ralph Montagu, Duke of, 1638?-1709
