Francis Bacon Library Manuscripts Collection: Finding Aid

Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents -- FBL 1 - 31

FBL 1. -----. [Leaf from a service book], MS. (2 p.), ([ca. 1475?]), ([Italy]). Note: in Italian (?); on vellum. 4-line staves with black square notes, red & black text, a few autograph annotations in margin.

FBL 2. -----. [Music leaf with historiated initial], MS. (2 p.), ([ca. 1350?]). Note: on vellum. 6- line staves with black square notes, red black & blue text. Note: removed to Oversize Box 5.

FBL 3. Bacon, Anne Cooke, Lady, 1528?-1610. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), (1573, Aug. 6).

FBL 4. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. 1 letter to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, 1592- 1628, L.S. (1 p.), (1617, Sep. 22). Note: per endorsement from [Theobalas].

FBL 5. Bacon, Nathaniel, 1547-1622. 1 letter to Roger Townshend, ca. 1569-1637, L.S. (1 p.), (1619, Nov. 24).

FBL 6. Great Britain. Privy Council. 1 letter to John Temple, 1541 or 2-1603, L.S. (1 p.), (1599, Aug. 4), (Court at Nonesuch). Note: signed by Thomas Sackville, Baron Buckhurst, Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere, George Carey, Baron Hunsdon, Roger, Baron North, Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham, and Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury.

FBL 7. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. 1 letter to Sir Thomas Postumus Hobby, 1565 or 6-1641, L.S. (1 p.), (1606, Aug. 4). On verso: account of what linen was brought from Brimpton, April 24 ’99.

FBL 8. -----. Memorandum of an indentured agreement that Francis Bacon… & Alice His Wife will pay £16 P.A. rent for the remainder of a lease of the Fawken [Falcon?] Inn of Chelmsford, Essex…, D.S. (1 p.), ([1620, May 1]). With signatures of all interested parties. Note: removed to Oversize Box 5.

FBL 9. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. 1 letter to Sir Julius Ceasar, 1557/58-1636, L.S. (1 p.), (1609, July 13), Gray’s Inn (London, Eng.).

FBL 10. Great Britain. Court of the Exchequer. [Receipt for £530, received from Francis, Viscount St. Albans, signed by W. Heyricke], D.S. (1 p.), (1622/23, Feb. 17). Note: in Latin.

FBL 11. Keller, Helen, 1880-1968. 1 letter to [Richard Watson Gilder, 1804-1909], L.S. (typewritten: 3 p.), (1909, Feb. 17), Wrentham (Mass.).

FBL 12. Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603. [License to Matthew Draper to Alienate certain lands in Middlesex to Edward Bowyer], D. (1 membrane), (1577, July 1), Westminster (Eng.). Note: seal missing.

FBL 13. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. 1 letter to Sir Francis Knollys, d. 1643, Richard Lovelace, Baron Lovelace, 1564-1634, Sir Thomas Vachell, and Sir Anthony Baker, d. 1630, L.S. (1 p.), (1619, July 9), York House (London, Eng.). Note: fragile and damaged, with some loss of text; please do not remove from mylar.

FBL 14. -----. [Writs and edicts. A collection from Henry VIII - Charles I], 1 vol., (vi & 86 folios), ([17th century]). Note: written in secretary hand; in Latin. Due to fragile condition volume has been disbound from vellum binding; loose pages very brittle, handle carefully. Cataloger’s Note: notes on Francis Bacon written on inside cover. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 15. Suffolk. Mettingham Castle. Nomina tenentium in hoc. libro manerio de Mettingham Castle pertinent alphabetice descripta, 1 vol., (53 folios), ([early 18th century]). Note: in Latin. Title-page in decorative calligraphy, with initial in gold. Tenants are indexed under “Coppyholders” and “Freeholders.” Cataloger’s Note: Edmund Bacon is listed as one of the tenants. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 16. England. College of Arms. [Herald’s Visitation of the County of Suffolk By William Harvey, Clarenceux King of Arms], 1 vol., (89 folios), (1560-[1561]). Note: contemporary copy, with pen & ink Coats of Arms, partially tricked; some staining and damage -- repaired. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 17. -----. [A brief collection of triumphant memorials to Queen Elizabeth & England’s victory over the Spanish Armada: including a full page coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth ‘quarterly quartered’ in color, and a large emblematic pen drawing showing England as a rock surmounted by the royal crown], MS., (24 p.), ([ca. 1620?]). Note: in English and Latin; full list of contents enclosed with manuscript. Boxed separately in a modern slipcase with “The Imperiall Atchievement of Queene Elizabeth…” on the spine. Manuscript boxed separately.

FBL 18. -----. [Leaf of a prayer book], MS. (2 p.), ([16th century]). Note: on vellum, in Latin and French. Text written in black & red, with large capitals and ornamental stops in devotions illuminated in gold and lapis lazuli.

FBL 19. -----. [Herald’s Notebook recording fees, oaths, ceremonies, blazoning, & other activities of various officers of the College of Arms, with miscellaneous lists of officers, nobility, precedence, etc.], 1 vol., (47 folios), ([ca. 1604]). Note: bound in brown calf with gilt tooling; contemporary folliation includes drawing of a herald, a pursuivant of arms in their habit, & of the Hearse for an Earl. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 20. -----. [Life of St. Anthony], 1 vol., (81 folios), ([early 15th century]). Note: in Dutch; written on vellum with rubricated initials. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 21. -----. [Love songs and sonnets], 1 vol., (89 folios), ([ca. 1620?]). Note: in Italian; written in several hands. Bound in limp vellum, with many blank folios and some water damage. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 22. -----. Rosicrucians: [an album of ink & water-color drawings of Rosicrucian symbols, with annotations in German and Latin], 1 vol., (12 folios), ([ca. 1750]), ([Germany]). Note: German; with several blank folios. Many of these figures published, with variations, in Geheime Figuren der Rosenkreuzer aus dem 16th und 17th Jarhundert, in 1785. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 23. [Bacon, Anthony, 1558-1601]. [Photocopies of Huntington Microfilm of the Anthony Bacon manuscripts in Lambeth Palace]. Please note: these photocopies not included with Bacon Library Manuscripts.

FBL 24. [Goldring, Arthur]. [Photocopy of: A Morall fabletalke…]. Original manuscript (Western MS 16) in Columbia University Library. Please note: this photocopy not included with Bacon Library Manuscripts.

FBL 25. Berkshire. Bisham. [Transcript of Baptisms & Marriages extracted from the Parish registers of Bisham, 1560-1753], 1 vol., (38 folios), (1888). Note: vellum bound; with A.L.S. pasted on inside front flyleaf, from Charles William Williams to [Rev. & dear Sir], Oct. 17, 1881. Edited & privately printed for the Parish Register Society in 1898 by Edgar Powell. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 26. -----. [Genealogical roll tracing the descent of Sir Nicholas Bacon from Robert, Duke of Normandy], MS. (roll, 500 x 10 cm.), ([ca. 1559-1579]). Note: written in secretary hand; 50 coat-of-arms in painted emblazonry, names in roundels, portrait of Robert, Duke of Normandy at the head. Manuscript boxed separately.

FBL 27. Great Britain. Privy Council. 1 letter to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, 1591-1646: order to Essex as Ld. Lieutenant of Staffordshire to muster & review military forces of the country & bring men, horses, arms & supplies to a state of readiness, L.S. (2 p.), (1618, Feb. 11), Whitehall (London, Eng.). Signed by: George Abbott, Francis Bacon, Fulke Greville, Baron Brooke, Sir Julius Ceasar, Sir Thomas Edmondes, Sir Robert Naunton, and eight other councillors. Note: removed to Oversize Box 5.

FBL 28. -----. [Psalter in Dutch with Service-Book in Latin and Dutch], 1 vol., (viii & 469 folios), ([late 16th century?]), (The Netherlands). Note: bound in limp vellum; with engraving of the Nativity pasted in at f. 160. Text in black & red ink, musical notation on 4-line staves. Volume boxed separately.

FBL 29. Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1592-1628. 1 letter to Francis Bacon, 1561- 1626, L.S. (2 p.), (1621, Nov. 14), Newmarket (Suffolk, Eng.).

FBL 30. -----. Legal Commonplace Book: [Miscellaneous collection of legal records, treatises, notes, documents, etc.], MS. (i & 127 folios & i), ([ca. 1580-1600?]). Note: in English, Latin, & Law-French; with one additional leaf laid in. Bound in limp vellum. Detailed description of contents enclosed.

FBL 31. Great Britain. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Norfolk). [Memoranda Book of Recognisances and Warrants kept by Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, as a Justice of the Peace], MS. (74 p.), (1597-1601). Note: in secretary hand, written by two or three clerks; sewn bout not bound. Cataloger’s Note: this is the second of three volumes covering the years 1593-1617, the other two volumes are in the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Norfolk Record Office.

Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents -- FBL 32 - 49

FBL 32. London. St. Mary Axe & Other Parishes. [Deed poll by Sir Edward Bacon transferring the messuage called Pappey House & other specified lands to Humphry Donatt in trust for & to the use of Bacon, His wife Helen, & their heirs & assigns.], D.S. (1 membrane), (1581, Mar. 10). Note: in Latin; written in secretary hand. With pendant seal & signature of Sir Edward Bacon.

FBL 33. Coke, John. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), ([ca. 1604-1622]). Cataloger’s Note: this is probably John Coke, junior, son of Sir John Coke, Secretary of State, who died in 1644.

FBL 34. Heydon, Christopher, Sir, d. 1623. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), (1608, May 23).

FBL 35. Paston, Edward, 1550-1630. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), ([before 1604]), Appleton (Norfolk, Eng.).

FBL 36. Paston, Edward, 1550-1630. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), ([before 1604], Nov. 27), Appleton (Norfolk, Eng.).

FBL 37. Woodhouse, Henry, Sir, 1546-1625. 1 letter to Sir Nicholas Bacon, 1509-1579, L.S. (1 p.), (1570, Feb. 19), Norwich (Eng.).

FBL 38. Woodhouse, William, Sir, 1570-1639. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), ([ca. 1604-1622]).

FBL 39. Woodhouse, Phillip, Sir, d. 1623. 1 letter to Nathaniel Bacon, 1547-1622, L.S. (1 p.), (1622, June 25), Kimberly Hall (Norfolk, Eng.).

FBL 40. Sidney, Robert, 1563-1626. [Signed receipt for £400 received from William Meredith, Paymaster of Queen’s Forces in the Low Countries, by Sidney as Governor of Flushing], D.S. (1 p.), (1597, May 22). Note: stained.

FBL 41. Ellesmere, Thomas Egerton, Baron, 1540?-1617. [Order to Chidiock Wardour & Vincent Skinner, Officers of the Exchequer of Receipt, to stay payment on an annuity of £200 lately granted to Thomas Felton], D.S. (1 p.), (1598, Aug. 2). Also signed by: Sir John Fortescue, 1531?-1607. Note: fragile & damaged, with some loss of text -- please do not remove from mylar.

FBL 42. Bacon, Butts, Sir, d. 1661. [Drawing in ink color & gilt of the full coat of arms of Butts Bacon, beneath the motto “Mediocria Firma,” with a dedication to John Christopher Boserut], MS.S. (1 p.), ([before 1661]). Cataloger’s note: Butts Bacon was the son of Francis Bacon’s half-brother Nicholas & his wife Anne Butts.

FBL 43. Babcock, Samuel H. 1 letter to [Maj.] J---- Brown, A.L.S. (1 p.), (1824, Oct. 15). Note: fragile & damaged, with some loss of text -- please do not remove from mylar.

FBL 44. -----. [Final concord re lands in Herne [Kent?] between Michael Coole et al, Plaintiffs & Thomas & Isabella Boykin, Defendants], D. (1 p.), (1527, Sep. 5).

FBL 45. -----. [Biblical exegesis on 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, Nehemiah, Esther, 2nd Chronicles & Ezra], 1 vol., (282 folios), ([1720]). Note: owner’s signature “W.S. Davidson” on 2nd flyleaf; spine of binding marked “M.S. Sermons 1720.” Volume boxed separately.

FBL 46. Somerset. Huntspill. [Lease of lands in Huntspill by William Bouchier, 3rd Earl of Bath, to John Lye, for a term of 99 years], D.S. (1 membrane), ([1606], June 9). Note: fragile & damaged -- please handle carefully. With modern pencilled “interlinear transcript.”

FBL 47. Cary, Robert, Sir. [Authorization to pay 12 s. 5 d. due to Thomas Henn], D.S. (1 p.), (1618[/19]). Endorsed: “Thomas Henn his bill 1618” and, in a different hand, signed receipt on Henn’s behalf by Thomas Thorton, Feb. 17, 1618[/19]. Also signed by Peter [Nouns?]. Note: fragment only, entire right side of document torn away, with much loss of text.

FBL 48. -----. More (Salop): A Memorandum of the Family of More of the Manor and Parish of More in the County of Salop…, MS. (14 p.), ([19th century?]). Note: bound in paper covers.

FBL 49. [Gibson, R. W. (Reginald Walter)]. [Young Life of Bacon: chaps. 1-12], carbon copy (MS., typewritten: 105 p.), ([1967]). With some autograph corrections.

Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents -- FBL 65 - 75

FBL 65. Woodland, John. Confession [re title to lands in Parish of Dagenham, Essex], D. (1 p.), ([1521], Jan. 2).

FBL 66. Essex. Dagenham. [Note of a fine & recovery for the Manor of Marks in Dagenham], D. (1 p.), ([1522-1523]). Note: damaged, with some loss of text -- please do not remove from mylar.

FBL 67. Bacon, Nicholas, Sir, 1509-1579. 1 letter to Thomas Cornwallis, 1518 or 19-1604 & Sir John Sulyard, 1514-1574, L.S. (1 p.), (1562, Aug. 21), The Court. Also enclosed: photocopy of modern transcription.

FBL 68. Essex. Dagenham. [List of Quitrents demanded to Barking for land near the Manor of Marks], D. (1 p.), ([ca. 1600?]).

FBL 69. Great Britain. Assizes (Essex). [Legal notes on a [tithe?] dispute between John Fanshaw & Carew Mildmay, alias Hervy, as to whether a field called “20 Acres” belonging to the Manor of Marks is in the parish of Dagenham or Hornchurch], MS. (16 p.), ([ca. 1662]).

FBL 70. Great Britain. Assizes (Essex). [Order that the jurors in a case between John Fanshaw & Carew Mildmay, alias Hervy, adjourn to view the lands in dispute], D. (1 p.), (1662, July 19), Chelmsford (Essex, Eng.). Note: damaged.

FBL 71. Wilkinson, Christopher, fl. 1669-1693 & Lister, John, fl. 1678-1694. 1 letter to Sir Richard Standish, L.S. (1 p.), (1693, Nov. 16), Clitheroe (Lancs., Eng.).

FBL 72. -----. [Untitled Morning & Evening Prayers for a family, beginning “In the morning pray in the family upon your knees, thus”], MS. (4 p.), ([ca. 1650?]).

FBL 73. -----. [Note [or endorsement?] concerning the possessions of a prior & convent], N. (2 p.), ([1652?]). Note: fragment only.

FBL 74. Great Britain. Exchequer. [Debentures for payments to various officials of the College of Arms], D. (3 p.), (1704-1705). Note: examined & signed by Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax, 1661-1715, as Auditor of the Exchequer.

FBL 75. Great Britain. Treasury. [Warrant for the provision & delivery of livery to James Greene, newly appointed to the office of Bluemantle Pursuivant], D.S. (1 p.), (1719, June 15). Note: fragile & damaged, with some loss of text -- please do not remove from mylar.

Deeds & Documents -- FBL 50 - 64

FBL 50. Cambridgeshire. Castle Camps. [Deed of Sale by Sir John Skynner & his Feoffees Sir William Smith & Sir Michael Hicks, to James Overall, for £8, of pastures in Castle Camps, Cambridge], D.S. (1 membrane), (1606, July 7). With 3 pendant seals.

FBL 51. Essex. Dagenham. Bargain & sale of the reversion of the Manor of Marks by Robert Knolles to Sir Thomas Urswick, D. (1 membrane), ([1460], Aug. 12). With pendant seal.

FBL 52. Essex. Dagenham. Final concord between Henry Gray & John Nonnes Plt.s & Thomas Hales & Elizabeth his wife, Deforciants for the sale of the Manor of Marks, D. (1 membrane), ([1556], Feb. 6). In Latin.

FBL 53. Essex. Dagenham. Indenture of covenant between Sir Nicholas Bacon & Thomas Hales to make a final concord, deliver evidences, etc., re the sale of the Manor of Marks Jan. 15, 1556/7, D.S. (1 membrane), ([1558], May 23). With pendant seal.

FBL 54. Essex. Dagenham. Gift in tail of the Manor of Marks to Sir Nicholas Bacon & Anne his wife, by his agents James Bacon & Augustine Curtes, D.S. (1 membrane), ([1558], June 28). In Latin; with pendant seal.

FBL 55. Essex. Dagenham. Quadripartite indenture creating the family settlement (entail) for the Manor of Marks by Sir Nicholas Bacon, his brother Thomas Bacon, his son Nicholas Bacon, & his father-in-law Sir Anthony Cooke, D.S. (1 membrane), ([1564], Nov. 20). With pendant seal.

FBL 56. Essex. Dagenham. [Grant by Sir Nicholas Bacon & his son Nicholas Bacon of certain liberties in the Manor of Marks, Essex to Robert Nowell & William Lovelace], D.S. (1 membrane), ([1565], Nov. 20). In Latin, with pendant seal & signatures of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Anne, Lady Bacon, Nowen & Lovelace.

FBL 57. Essex. Dagenham. Indenture leading to a recovery for the Manor of Marks to the use of Francis Bacon (afterwards Baron Verulam & Visc. St. Albans), D.S. (1 membrane), ([1584], Jan. 6). With pendant seal.

FBL 58. Essex. Havering-Atte-Bower. Grant by John Hydon to Thomas Fuller et al., of a field called Mellfield, D. (1 membrane), (1510, Aug. 15). In Latin, with pendant seals.

FBL 59. Essex. Hornchurch. Bargain & sale by Thomas Roche to Sir Gawen Harvy of his land called Myll Lands in the Manor of Gobions adjoining Marks, D.S. (1 membrane), (1613, Nov. 28).

FBL 60. Essex. Hornchurch. Indenture of sale of four closes in Hornchurch by Carew Mildmay alias Hervy to Sir Richard Minshall et al., to the use of Carew Mildmay alias Hervy, D.S. (1 membrane), ([1635], Jan. 1). With pendant seal.

FBL 61. Essex. Hornchurch. Quitclaim by William Roche to Carew Mildmay alias Hervy of Baylefield & Mill Land in Hornchurch, D.S. (1 membrane), (1639, Apr. 12). With pendant seal.

FBL 62. Essex. Hornchurch. Lease by Carew Mildmay alias Hervy of Pigtails Farm & other lands in Hornchurch for 28 years, D.S. (2 membranes), (1718, Nov. 29). With schedule of built-in carpentry work in the kitchen, brewhouse, diary, etc.

FBL 63. Essex. Stapleford Abbott. Final concord between Carew Arundell Plaintiff & Edward DeVere, 17th Earl of Oxford, Deforciant, for the sale of the Manor of Battles Hall, D. (1 membrane), ([1575], Jan. 20). In Latin.

FBL 64. Shropshire. Church Stratton. Livery of seisin by Francis Broke for Henry Fitz Alan Earl of Arundell to John Lord Lumley & Jane his wife of lands in Little Stratton, D.S. (1 membrane), ([1563], Feb. 13). In Latin, with pendant seal.

Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents: Oversize -- FBL 2, 8, 27

FBL 2. -----. [Music leaf with historiated initial], MS. (2 p.), ([ca. 1350?]). Note: on vellum. 6- line staves with black square notes, red black & blue text.

FBL 8. -----. Memorandum of an indentured agreement that Francis Bacon… & Alice His Wife will pay £16 P.A. rent for the remainder of a lease of the Fawken [Falcon?] Inn of Chelmsford, Essex…, D.S. (1 p.), ([1620, May 1]). With signatures of all interested parties.

FBL 27. Great Britain. Privy Council. 1 letter to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, 1591-1646: order to Essex as Ld. Lieutenant of Staffordshire to muster & review military forces of the country & bring men, horses, arms & supplies to a state of readiness, L.S. (2 p.), (1618, Feb. 11), Whitehall (London, Eng.). Signed by: George Abbott, Francis Bacon, Fulke Greville, Baron Brooke, Sir Julius Ceasar, Sir Thomas Edmondes, Sir Robert Naunton, and eight other councillors.

Ephemera: Printed Material, Photographs, Negatives & Provenance Information

Printed Material: Biographical, Dealer & Provenance Information, 13 pieces, ([before 2011]).

Photographs and Slides of various Bacon Library Manuscripts, 19 pieces, ([before 2011]). Note: transferred to the Huntington Library from the Bacon Library, Claremont.

Photographs of FBL 19: Herald Record, 51 pieces, ([before 2011]). Note: transferred to the Huntington Library from the Bacon Library, Claremont. Photos taken by Steve Schenck, of Schenck & Schenck of Claremont.

Photographic Negatives of various Bacon Library Manuscripts, 15 pieces, ([before 2011]). Note: transferred to the Huntington Library from the Bacon Library, Claremont.

Manuscripts: Catalog and inventory lists, 56 items, ([approx. 1972-1989]). Transferred from the Francis Bacon Library Archive, Huntington Rare Books Department, Oct. 2011.

Manuscripts: Correspondence, translations, etc., 59 items, ([approx. 1940-1992]). Transferred from the Francis Bacon Library Archive, Huntington Rare Books Department, Oct. 2011.

Manuscripts: Provenance and records for FBL 3-10, 12-13, 16, , 52 items, ([approx. 1927- 1975]). Transferred from the Francis Bacon Library Archive, Huntington Rare Books Department, Oct. 2011.

Manuscripts: Provenance and records for FBL 18-20, 23, 26-27, 29-30, 26 items, ([approx. 1950-1984]). Transferred from the Francis Bacon Library Archive, Huntington Rare Books Department, Oct. 2011.