John Lyly (1554–1606)

Prose

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

First published in London, 1578. Bond, Vol. I. Edited by Leah Scragg, in Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit and Euphues and his England (Manchester, 2003), pp. 25-150.

LyJ 0.1

Extracts, headed ‘Euph.’. c.1600.

In: A quarto composite volume of state and miscellaneous papers, in several hands, 115 leaves, with an Index (ff. 68r-77r), in modern quarter crushed morocco on cloth boards gilt.

British Library, Harley MS 677, ff. 80v-5r.

LyJ 0.2

Extracts.

In: An octavo commonplace book of verse and prose, in two or more secretary hands, 41 leaves, in a recycled illuminated vellum music document. Inscribed (ff. 1r, 2r) ‘Samuell Watts’. Early 17th century.

Among the papers of the Sanford family. Formerly DD/SF 3970.

Somerset Heritage Centre, DD/SF/10/5/1, ff. 3 r-v, 5r-v, 6v, 8r, 19r-v, 24v, 28r-v, 29v, 30v-1r, 35v.

Dramatic Works

Campaspe

First published in London, 1584. Bond, II, 313-60.

LyJ 1

Extracts.

In: The greater part of a quarto commonplace book of extracts, compiled by Edward Pudsey (1573-1613), iii + 104 leaves, in 19th-century green morocco gilt. Four leaves of this commonplace book are in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, ER 82/1/21. c.1604-9.

Owned in 1615-16 by one ‘Bassett’ and in the 1880s by Richard Savage. At the Neligan sale, 2 August 1888, lot 1098. Bought by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-89), and his sale 4 July 1889, lot 1257.

All the Shakespearian texts except Othello were edited from this MS in Richard Savage's Shakespearean Extracts (1887). The MS also edited in Juliet Mary Gowan, An Edition of Edward Pudsey's Commonplace Book (c.1600-1615) (unpublished M. Phil., University of London, 1967). It was then found that the miscellany lacked several of its original leaves, including extracts from six plays by Shakespeare. These leaves were rediscovered in 1977 among Savage's papers at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, ER 82/1/21, and the Othello extracts identified by Gowan. The MS also discussed in J. Rees, ‘Shakespeare and “Edward Pudsey's Booke”, 1600’, N&Q, 237 (September 1992), 330-1, and in Fred Schurink, ‘Manuscript Commonplace Books, Literature, and Reading in Early Modern England’, HLQ, 73/3 (2010), 453-69 (pp. 465-9), with a facsimile of f. 31r on p. 467.

Bodleian, MS Eng. poet. d. 3, f. 86v.

The Entertainment at Chiswick

First published in Queen Elizabeth's Entertainment at Mitcham, ed. Leslie Hotson (New Haven, 1953).

LyJ 2

Copy, in an italic hand, of two speeches by an Angler, headed ‘At Sr William Russels howse at Cheswick’, the second speech headed ‘At her Mats: departure’, subscribed ‘John: Lilly’, on one side of a single folio leaf, the verso with a (deleted) address panel ‘To the Right Worshipfull Roger Wilbraham Esquior Mr of Requestes geve these’, and once folded as a letter. [1602].

Edited from this MS in Hotson.

Northamptonshire Record Office, FH 2414.

An Entertainment at Harefield

The Entertainment at Mitcham

An entertainment, on 12 September 1598, just possibly by Lyly. First published in Queen Elizabeth's Entertainment at Mitcham, ed. Leslie Hotson (New Haven, 1953).

LyJ 3

Copies of parts of the entertainment: ff. 253r-62v, in a cursive secretary hand, on quarto leaves, endorsed by Caesar ‘The 2. speeches dialogue wise to Q. Elizabeth at my howse at Mitcha 13. Sept. 1598’; f. 233r, in a professional secretary hand, endorsed (f. 234v) in another hand ‘A copy of the supplication deliuered to her Maty At D. Cæsars howse, 12. Septeb. 1598’; f. 281r, Greek and Latin verses in a roman hand, endorsed by Caesar (f. 281v) ‘The dite of the greak song, before the Qs maty at mine howse at Mitcha’.

In: A large folio composite volume of state and legal papers, in various hands, 486 leaves, in half brown morocco. Papers of Sir Julius Caesar (1558-1636), Master of the Rolls.

Sale of Julius Caesar's MSS, December 1757, lot 73. Bookplate of Horace Walpole (1717-97), fourth Earl of Orford, author, politician and patron. Strawberry Hill sale, 30 April 1842, lot 155.

Edited from these MSS in Hotson.

British Library, Add. MS 12497, ff. 233r, 253r-62v, 281r-v.

Loves Metamorphosis

First published in London, 1601. Bond, III, 289-332.

LyJ 4

Extracts.

In: the MS described under LyJ 1. c.1604-9.

Bodleian, MS Eng. poet. d. 3, f. 86v.

Letters by Lyly

Letter(s)

LyJ 5

A Latin epistle by Lyly, to Lord Burghley, in a professional hand, 16 May 1574. 1574.

In: A folio composite volume of papers of William Cecil, Lord Burghley.

Edited in Bond, I, 13-14, and in Feuillerat, pp. 522-3.

British Library, Lansdowne MS 19, f. 31r.

*LyJ 6

Autograph letter signed, to Lord Burghley, July 1582. 1582.

In: A folio composite volume of state papers.

Edited in Bond, I, 28-9, and in Feuillerat, pp. 529-31. Facsimile in Greg, English Literary Autographs, Plate XVII.

British Library, Lansdowne MS 36, ff. 192r-3r.

*LyJ 7

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cecil, 17 January 1594/5. 1595.

Edited in Bond, I, 390.

The Marquess of Salisbury, Hatfield House, Cecil Papers 24/99.

*LyJ 8

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cecil, 22 December 1597. 1597.

Edited in Bond, I, 68-9.

National Archives, Kew, SP 12/265/61 (ff. 128r-9).

*LyJ 9

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cecil, 23 January 1597/8. 1598.

Edited in Bond, I, 391.

The Marquess of Salisbury, Hatfield House, Cecil Papers 59/113.

*LyJ 10

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cecil, 9 September 1598. 1598.

Edited in Bond, I, 392-3, and in Feuillerat, pp. 557-8.

The Marquess of Salisbury, Hatfield House, Cecil Papers 64/5.

*LyJ 11

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cecil, 27 February 1600/1. 1601.

Edited in Bond, I, 395.

The Marquess of Salisbury, Hatfield House, Cecil Papers 77/14.

*LyJ 12

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cecil, 4 February 1602/3. 1603.

Edited in Bond, I, 75. Facsimile in Bond, III, frontispiece.

The Marquess of Salisbury, Hatfield House, Cecil Papers 91/103.

*LyJ 13

Autograph letter signed, to Sir Robert Cotton, damaged by fire, 30 April 1605. 1605.

In: A folio composite volume of letters, chiefly to Robert Cotton, in various hands.

Edited in Bond, p. 395 and in Feuillerat, p. 564. Facsimile in Greg, English Literary Autographs, Plate XVIII(a).

British Library, Cotton MS Julius C. III, f. 246r.

A petitionary letter to Queen Elizabeth

Beginning ‘Most Gratious and dread Soveraigne: I dare not pester yor Highnes wth many wordes...’. Written probably in 1598. Bond, I, 64-5. Feuillerat, pp. 556-7.

LyJ 14

Copy in: A small quarto colume of state papers and verse, in a closely written hand, i + 170 pages, badly affected by ink seepage. c.1620s-37.

Bodleian, MS Ashmole 781, p. 76.

LyJ 15

Copy in: A folio volume of letters and state papers, in various professional hands, one secretary hand predominating, with a table of contents, 354 leaves, in black leather gilt. c.1630s.

Bodleian, MS Tanner 82, f. 23r-v.

LyJ 16

Copy in: A folio compendium or entry book of state letters and other documents and memoranda, in various secretary and italic hands, 231 leaves (including numerous blanks), in modern half-calf. Compiled over a period, and partly written, by Sir Stephen Powle (c.1553-1630), Clerk of the Crown.

Bodleian, MS Tanner 169, f. 69r.

LyJ 17

Copy in: A quarto volume of letters and state papers, in a secretary hand, xii + 209 pages (plus blank pp. 211-472, 475-6), in contemporary calf. c.1620s-30s.

Owned in the 17th century by William Goswell, his friend James Bedford, and Gerard Langbaine [? Gerard Langbaine (1608/9-58), head of Queen's College, Oxford]. Also inscribed (f. 376) ‘Amy Wigmore’.

Bodleian, MS University College 152, pp. 2-3.

LyJ 18

Copy in: A quarto volume of state letters, in several hands, 543 pages, in calf gilt. Mid-17th century.

Once owned by John Hopkinson (1610-80), Yorkshire antiquary, of Lofthouse, near Leeds, and comprising Volume 44 of the Hopkinson MSS. Signed bookplate of Frances Mary Richardson Currer (1785-1861), book collector, of Eshton Hall, West Yorkshire. Subsequently owned by her step-father Matthew Wilson.

This volume (when unnumbered) recorded in HMC, 3rd Report (1872), Appendix, p. 300.

Bradford Archives, 32D86/44, pp. 16-18.

LyJ 19

Copy, headed ‘A petitionary letter from John Lilly to Queen Elizabeth’. c.1620s-30s.

In: A folio composite volume of state letters and papers, in several professional secretary hands, with (ff. 1r-12v) a ‘Tabula’ of contents, 315 leaves (including blanks), in old calf gilt.

Stamped crest on the cover of the Finch family, Earls of Winchilsea.

British Library, Add. MS 44848, f. 22r-v.

LyJ 20

Copy, headed ‘A petitionary letter from Jo: Lilly to Queene Elizabeth’.

In: A small folio volume of state letters, in a probably professional secretary hand, ii + 114 leaves, in half-morocco. c.1625-30s.

Later owned by John Locker (1693-1760), barrister and literary editor. Bought at his sale in 1764 by Thomas Birch (1705-66), biographer and historian (whose signature on f. iir is actually dated 26 September 1763).

British Library, Add. MS 4108, f. 5r-v.

LyJ 21

Copy in: A folio composite volume of state and antiquarian tracts and letters, in various professional hands, including the ‘Feathery Scribe’, 336 leaves.

In the collection of Francis Hargrave (1740/1-1821), legal writer. Inscribed by him on f. [iv] ‘F. Hargrave A gift made to me this day by my friend George Hardinge Esquire [(1743-1816), judge and writer]. F. H. 16. July 1789.’

Described in Peter Beal, In Praise of Scribes: Manuscripts and their Makers in Seventeenth-Century England (Oxford, 1998), p. 232 (No. 40).

This MS collated in Bond.

British Library, Hargrave MS 225, ff. 36r-7r.

LyJ 23

Copy in: A folio composite volume of state tracts, 285 leaves, in modern half crushed morocco gilt. In various professional hands, including that of the ‘Feathery Scribe’.

Briefly described in Peter Beal, In Praise of Scribes: Manuscripts and their Makers in Seventeenth-Century England (Oxford, 1998), pp. 242-4 (No. 57).

Edited from this MS in Feuillerat and in Bond.

British Library, Harley MS 1323, ff. 249r-50r.

LyJ 24

Copy, in a professional secretary hand, headed ‘A peticon of John Lilly to the Queenes Matie’.

In: A folio composite volume of state papers, tracts and speeches, in several secretary hands and paper sizes, 89 leaves, in modern half-morocco.

This MS collated in Bond.

British Library, Harley MS 1877, f. 69r-v.

LyJ 25

Copy in: A small folio volume of state tracts and papers, in one or more probably professional hands. c.1620s-30s.

Recorded in HMC, 3rd Report (1872), Appendix, pp. 203-4.

The Marquess of Bute, D 18, item 24 (ff. 52r-v).

LyJ 26

Copy in: A verse miscellany, in long narrow format, 66 leaves (including a number of blanks), in later calf. Largely in one neat secretary hand; a second hand on ff. 58v-9r, and a third on f. 66r. Compiled chiefly by a University of Cambridge man. c.1630s.

Once owned by F. W. Cosens, FSA (1819-89), of Clapham Park, book collector. Bequeathed in 1894 by Samuel Sandars, of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Discussed in Ted-Larry Pebworth and Claude J. Summers, ‘Recovering an Important Seventeenth-Century Poetical Miscellany: Cambridge Add. MS 4138’, TCBS, 7 (1978), 156-69 (pp. 160-1). A 19th-century transcript of much of this MS is in the Bodleian, MS Firth d. 7, ff. 60r-9r.

Cambridge University Library, MS Add. 4138, f. 51v.

LyJ 27

Copy, headed ‘A peticion of John Lillie to ye queenes Maiestie’.

In: A folio miscellany, begun as a commonplace book and then used for transcribing state papers, letters and verses, in several hands, 560 pages (including numerous blanks), in quarter-calf marbled boards. Early-mid-17th century.

Inscribed (p. i), probably in the late 17th century, ‘John Peck His Book’.

Recorded in Bond.

Cambridge University Library, MS Ee. 5. 23, p. 434.

LyJ 28

Copy in: An octavo verse miscellany, including fourteen poems by Donne, almost entirely in a single hand, 33 leaves (plus six blanks), in contemporary vellum. c.1630.

Possibly associated with the Inns of Court. Later used, and annotated in the margin, by William Fulman (1632-88), Oxford antiquary.

Cited in IELM, I.i (1980) as the ‘Fulman MS’: DnJ Δ 36. Formerly Bodleian MS CCC 327.

Corpus Christi College, Oxford, MS 327, ff. 24r-5v.

LyJ 29

Copy in: A folio volume of state letters, speeches and verse, in a single neat italic hand. c.1620s.

Among the papers of the Fuller family of Brightling Park. Possibly once owned by Ambrose Trayton of Lewes, Esquire of the Body to James I and Charles I.

East Sussex Record Office, RAF/F/13/1, f. 36r.

LyJ 30

Copy, headed ‘A Petitionary Letter from Jo: Lyllie to Queene Elizabeth’.

In: A folio volume of state letters, in several professional secretary hands, with a lengthy ‘Tabula’ of contents, xxx + 558 pages, in old vellum boards. c.1637.

Recorded in HMC, 6th Report, Part I (1877), p. 306.

This MS recorded in Bond.

Lord Egremont, Petworth House, HMC MS 61, pp. 23-5.

LyJ 31

Copy, headed ‘A Petitionarie Letter from John Lillie to Queene Elizabeth’.

In: A quarto volume of state letters, in a single professional hand, xxvi + c.955 pages (misnumbered around pp. 895-6), including a table of contents (and plus numerous blanks), in contemporary calf gilt, remains of ties. c.1630s.

Folger, MS V.a.239, pp. 42-5.

LyJ 32

Copy, headed ‘A Petitionarie Letter from John Lillie to Queene Elizabeth’.

In: A folio volume of state letters and papers, in several professional secretary hands, 1050 pages (plus a 24-page ‘Tabula’ of contents at the end), in calf. c.1630s.

Formerly MS F. 2. 20.

Folger, MS V.b.234, pp. 32-4.

LyJ 33

Copy, headed ‘A Petitionarie Letter from John Lillie to Queene Elizabeth’.

In: A folio volume of transcripts of state letters, in a single professional hand, 209 pages plus a three-page table of contents, in vellum. c.1630s.

Later owned by the antiquary Michael Lort (1725-90). Bookplate of Edmund Turner. Sotheby's, 24 October 1972, lot 383, to Alan Thomas.

Huntington, HM 36836, pp. 19-21.

LyJ 34

Copy, headed ‘A Peticon made by John Lilly to the Qs. Matie’.

In: A folio volume of state papers and tracts, in a professional cursive secretary hand, 346 leaves, in red morocco gilt. c.1620s-30s.

Inner Temple Library, Petyt MS 538, Vol. 36, f. 78r.

LyJ 35

Copy in: A small quarto volume of state letters and papers, in a single secretary hand, 704 pages, in quarter-calf boards. With a letter by James Gairdner (1828-1912), historian, returning this volume to Edward William Cox (1809-79), lawyer and publisher, 20 January 1886. Mid-17th century.

Gift of Mr Roland L. Redmond, 1942.

Pierpont Morgan Library, MA 1162, pp. 19-21.

LyJ 36

Copy in: A quarto verse miscellany, in several hands (one predominating up to p. 167), probably associated with Oxford, 436 pages (pp. 198-9 and 269-70 skipped in the pagination, and including many blanks and an index) and numerous further blank leaves at the end, in modern black morocco gilt. Including 14 poems by Carew, 13 poems by Corbett and 25 poems (plus one poem of doubtful authorship) by Strode. c.1650.

Scribbling on the first page including the words ‘Peyton Chester…’.

Cited in IELM, II.i-ii (1987-93), as the ‘Osborn MS I’: CwT Δ 38; CoR Δ 14; StW Δ 29.

Yale, Osborn MS b 200, pp. 82-4.

A second petitionary letter to Queen Elizabeth

Beginning ‘Most gratious and dread Soveraigne: Tyme cannott worke my peticons, nor my peticons the tyme...’. Written probably in 1601. Bond, I, 70-1. Feuillerat, pp. 561-2.

LyJ 37

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 14. c.1620s-37.

Bodleian, MS Ashmole 781, p. 77.

LyJ 38

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 15. c.1630s.

Bodleian, MS Tanner 82, f. 24r-v.

LyJ 39

Copy, headed ‘Mr Lillyes peticon to the Queene. 1601: about the tyme of my Ld of Essex followers fall’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 16.

Edited from this MS in Bond, I, 378, and in Feuillerat.

Bodleian, MS Tanner 169, f. 69r.

LyJ 40

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 17. c.1620s-30s.

Bodleian, MS University College 152, pp. 4-5.

LyJ 41

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 18. Mid-17th century.

Bradford Archives, 32D86/44, pp. 18-20.

LyJ 42

Copy, headed ‘To Queene Elizabeth. Another Letter to Queen Eliz. from Jo: Lilly’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 20. c.1625-30s.

British Library, Add. MS 4108, ff. 5v-6r.

LyJ 43

Copy, headed ‘Another Letter from John Lilly to Queen Elizabeth’. c.1620s.

In: the MS described under LyJ 19.

British Library, Add. MS 44848, f. 23r-v.

LyJ 43.5

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 21.

This MS collated in Bond.

British Library, Hargrave MS 225, ff. 37r-8v.

LyJ 45

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 23.

Edited from this MS in Bond.

British Library, Harley MS 1323, f. 250r.

LyJ 46

Copy, in a professional secretary hand, headed ‘John lillies second peticon to the Queene’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 24.

This MS collated in Bond.

British Library, Harley MS 1877, f. 69v.

LyJ 47

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 25. c.1620s-30s.

Recorded in Bond.

The Marquess of Bute, D 18, item 24 (ff. 52v-3r).

LyJ 48

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 26. c.1630s.

Cambridge University Library, MS Add. 4138, f. 51v.

LyJ 49

Copy, headed John Lillies second peticon.

In: the MS described under LyJ 27. Early-mid-17th century.

This MS recorded in Bond.

Cambridge University Library, MS Ee. 5. 23, pp. 434-5.

LyJ 50

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 28. c.1630.

Corpus Christi College, Oxford, MS 327, ff. 24r-5v.

LyJ 51

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 29. c.1620s.

East Sussex Record Office, RAF/F/13/1, f. 36r.

LyJ 52

Copy, headed ‘Another Letter to Queene Elizabeth from Jo: Lillie’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 30. c.1637.

Lord Egremont, Petworth House, HMC MS 61, pp. 25-7.

LyJ 53

Copy, headed ‘Another Letter to Quene Eliz: from John Lilly’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 31. c.1630s.

Folger, MS V.a.239, pp. 45-8.

LyJ 54

Copy, headed ‘Another Letter to Queene Elizabeth from John Lillie’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 32. c.1630s.

Folger, MS V.b.234, pp. 34-6.

LyJ 55

Copy, headed ‘Another letter to Queene Elizabeth from John Lilly’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 33. c.1630s.

Huntington, HM 36836, pp. 21-2.

LyJ 56

Copy, headed ‘Another of the same mans Peticons’.

In: the MS described under LyJ 34. c.1620s-30s.

Inner Temple Library, Petyt MS 538, Vol. 36, f. 78r-v.

LyJ 57

Copy, in a secretary hand, headed ‘John Lillyes peticon to Q: Elizabeth’, on one side of a single folio leaf, once folded as a letter or packet. c.1620s-30s.

Northamptonshire Record Office, FH 2617 .

LyJ 58

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 35. Mid-17th century.

Pierpont Morgan Library, MA 1162, pp. 21-2.

LyJ 59

Copy in: the MS described under LyJ 36. c.1650.

Yale, Osborn MS b 200, pp. 82-4.

Document(s)

Document(s)

LyJ 60

A record of John Lyly's name cited as witness (but not in his hand) to a receipt for money granted by the ecclesiastical court to the Cambridge student Edward Braine, in a diocesan licence register, 20 July 1570. 1570.

Recorded in William Urry, ‘John Lyly and Canterbury’, Thirty-third Annual Report of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (April 1960), 19-25 (p. 24).

Canterbury Cathedral, DCb/LR/1, f20.

*LyJ 61

An indenture for the sale of ‘The Splayed Eagle’ in Canterbury, signed by both ‘John Lyllye’ and his mother, Jane, 10 January [1570/1]. 1571.

Discovered by William Urry among the archives at Canterbury Cathedral. Formerly Boteler MSS 116a.

Recorded in William Urry, ‘John Lyly and Canterbury’, Thirty-third Annual Report of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (April 1960), 19-25 (p. 24).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U2083/Box B/116a.

LyJ 62

A title deed relating to the sale of ‘The Splayed Eagle’ in Canterbury, signed by Jane Lyly. 1581.

Discovered by William Urry among the archives at Canterbury Cathedral. Formerly Boteler MSS 116b.

Recorded by Urry in ‘John Lyly and Canterbury’, Thirty-third Annual Report of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (April 1960), 19-25 (p. 24).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U2083/Box B/116b.

LyJ 63

A title deed relating to the sale of ‘The Splayed Eagle’ in Canterbury, signed by Jane Lyly. 1581.

Discovered by William Urry among the archives at Canterbury Cathedral. Formerly Boteler MSS 116c.

Recorded by Urry in ‘John Lyly and Canterbury’, Thirty-third Annual Report of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (April 1960), 19-25 (p. 24).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U2083/Box B/116c.

*LyJ 64

A quitclaim from John Lyly to his mother, signed in an italic script ‘Per me Joanne Lilie’ (or ‘Liliu’), 3 October [1581]. 1581.

Discovered by William Urry among the archives at Canterbury Cathedral. Formerly Boteler MSS 116e.

Recorded in William Urry, ‘John Lyly and Canterbury’, Thirty-third Annual Report of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (April 1960), 19-25 (p. 24).

Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, U2083/Box B/116e.

Editorial papers

LyJ 65

A collection of papers of the editor Richard Warwick Bond (1857-1943), including numerous notebooks, papers and collections relating to his edition of John Lyly. 1794-1953.

University of Nottingham, Bd 27-117.