Manuscript, in a single secretary hand, consisting of about 37 prose and verse pieces, many on political, satirical, and topical subjects. Prose pieces include a tract titled Vox Populi, Or Newes from Spaine, Translated According to the Spanish Coppie; The Oath Sayd to bee Taken by Commanders in the Warre 1639; copies of proclamations, speeches, and warrants dated 1642 which pertain to the activities of Lord Fairfax's army in Yorkshire and the North; and an exposition of a system of shorthand titled The Art of Short Writeing Invented by ____ Laborer gouldsmith & Citizen of London, As Hee Taught Mee. Verses include a dialogue titled A Conference Held Att Angelo Castell Betweene the Pope, the Emperor and The King of Spayne; Verses uppon Prince Charle His Voyage For Spayne, in Febr. 1622; A Coppie of a Printed Ballade Called The Bishops Bridles, Lent by Will. Burton of Wakefield Oct 1639; satirical anagrams and verses on the word "Parliament"; and two verse libels written as petitions from the Lords and Commons in Parliament to King Charles I.
Description:
In English., The manuscript also includes one page of accounts, including a list of what "I owe to my Mother" and a list of wages for "John Sunderland," who had "begun his year the 5th of June (69).", Pasted in back flyleaf: dealer's description of manuscript., Inside front cover: Bookplate of Henry J.B. Clements, dated 1869, and the, On flyleaf: signature of Benjamin Heywood Bright, 1810., On second page: armorial bookplate with phrase "Sub Robore Virtus" and signature (undecipherable) beneath. Above bookplate: "Memoranda kept by Ralph Assheton.", and Binding: half calf; machine grain morocco.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, Spain., Spain, and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Assheton, Ralph, Sir, 1603-1680., Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649., and Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, Baron, 1612-1671.
Subject (Topic):
Anagrams, English poetry, Occasional verse, English, Political poetry, English, Shorthand, Verse satire, English, Foreign relations, and Politics and government
Manuscript on paper, in a single hand, of a collection of political material, the bulk of which consists of petitions and Parliamentary speeches made in 1640 and 1641. The grievances cited in a petition by "the Citizens of London" at York include "imposicions upon Merchandise imported and exported. The urging and levying of ship money...the great concourse of Papists and their adherents in London...The seldome calling and sodaine dissolving of Parlmt. without redressing your subjects grevances;" and a petition of "the Lay-Catholiques Recusants of England" begs for relief from persecution. Issues discussed in Parliament during this time include the trial of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, the Oath of allegiance to the Church of England, and the question of episcopal government. The manuscript also contains a satirical piece titled "Observations of Holland" which declares, "It is excellent for desparring Lovers, for each corner affoords a Willow; But if Justice should condemne one to bee hang'd on any other Tree, he may live long, and confident," followed by a similarly satirical piece on Scotland. A sermon "preacht at St. Gyles in Edinburgh...1638...by James Rowe" declares "The Kirk a Scotland cau'd a smeld as weele, as any Kirk ith the Warld. Than the Kyrk a Rounie smelt sa strang that at furst she cau'd a tauld yee, she taisted o the cheare o Babylon. But now bring in the stinkenest Papery under her Neese, and it wull savour as sweat as an Aple." The manuscript concludes with "The Oath all are to take, or to suffer as Papists" and a petition from "severall grammer schooles in and about the Cyty of London."
Description:
In English., Partial table of contents at beginning., Initials stamped on front and back covers: "T. D.", and Binding: full sheep.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., Great Britain, Netherlands, and Scotland
Subject (Name):
Arundel and Surrey, Thomas Howard, second earl of, 1585-1646., Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649., Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 1593-1641., and Great Britain. Parliament, 1640-1641.
Subject (Topic):
Catholics, Episcopacy, Satire, Sermons, Ship money, History, Politics and government, Religious life and customs, and Description and travel