Manuscript. [Wotton, Henry]. 'Of Robert Devereux Earle of Essex and George Villiers...', c. 1634

Manuscript. [Wotton, Henry, 1568-1639]. 'Of Robert Devereux Earle of Essex and George Villiers Duke of Buckingham some observations by way of Paralell in the tyme of their estates of favour, 1634', contemporary manuscript fair copy in a very neat hand on rectos and versos of 26 unnumbered leaves, following on in another neat contemporary hand with 'On the great Frost 1634' and 'On the Thawe 1634', [by William Cartwright, 1611-1643], 5 pp., there following in a third contemporary hand 2 leaves with copy of a monument inscription for Maria, Countess Buckingham, [in Westminster Abbey], the second titled 'Epigrames. To D.W.', beginning 'A man of scarlet lately was promoted', the remaining leaves largely blank save for 11 lines from Spenser's Fairy Queen in a later hand to an initial leaf, possibly in the hand of F[rancis] Penyston whose signature appears at rear along with 12 pages of notes on the Kings of England, seemingly in his hand, Cornwell House ink stamp, 3 further pen and pencil name inscriptions in difficult hands at front of volume, contemporary limp vellum, some soiling, one corner with small loss, small 8vo (150 x 100 mm)

(Quantity: 1)

The most substantial item is that by Henry Wotton which was published in 1641 under the title A Parallel between Robert Earl of Essex and George Duke of Buckingham. This would seem to be a manuscript copy that was made (perhaps for private circulation) before publication. The two Cartwright poems would appear to be very contemporary fair copies. 'On the great Frost, 1634' was published in Works (1651); 'On the Thawe, 1634' has not been located.

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