Back to results

Library

Leycesters common-wealth: conceived, spoken, and published with most earnest protestation of all dutifull good will and affection towards this realme; for whose good onely it is made common to many.

  • Accession number

    83020438

  • Class

    SR 93/

  • Language

    English

  • Physical description

    [8], 88, 81-128, 137-183, [3], 34 pages, [1] leaf of plates : portrait; 8°.

  • Enquire

    Enquire about this object

General note: "Leicester's commonwealth" is a political tract against Elizabeth I's government. It went through many stages and forms, both in manuscript and in print, and is most well known by the title "Leicester's commonwealth". It was first printed on the continent in 1584 with title "The copie of a leter, wryten by a master of arte of Cambridge, to his friend in London". It was formerly attributed to Robert Parsons and is sometimes attributed to Thomas Morgan. Cf. DNB s.v. Dudley, Robert, Earl of Leicester. 1532?-1588. Frontispiece portrait (plate) signed: W. Marshall sculpsit. Does not fully correspond with the first issue described in the Grolier club Catalogue of English writers, or with the two issues described in Burgoyne's edition of 1904 (pages xiv-xv). "Leicester's commonwealth" was republished in 1641 and was versified as "Leicester's ghost" about the same time. A-M8 A-B8 C2; -all after M8; stain on the title page, slightly affecting text; occasional MS. ink marginalia UK-SuSCL Cited in: Wing (2nd ed.), L969aA Ownership and custodial history: MS. ink copy of letter dated 1641 attached at front; MS. ink initials on the title page: "M.H."; purchased from B.H. Newdigate, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1925 UK-SuSCL.