Thomas Elyot

Prose

The Boke named The Governour

First published in 1531.

ElT 1

Verse extracts.

In: A tall folio miscellany of verse and prose, including a series of Pithie sentences and wise sayinges, largely in a secretary hand, iv + 120 leaves (including blanks), in contemporary dark brown calf on wooden boards (rebacked), with remains of brass clasps.

Compiled principally by William Briton (1564-1637), of Kelston, Somerset.

c.1586-1605.

Once owned by members of the Harington family, including John Harington, MP (d.1654). Acquired by Quaritch in 1932 and in their centenary sale catalogue (1947), item 198. Booklabel of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 12 June 1980 (Houghton sale), lot 427.

Image of Governance

First published in London, 1541.

ElT 2
Series of extracts in Latin, headed Sententiæ atque preclara facta Alexandri Seueri, with a dedication subscribed Filia tua...Maria Arundell, the Responsum Alexandri &c written and signed by Filius tuus...Iohanies Radcliffus, on 26 octavo pages, bound with three other manuscripts, all Latin translations written as New Year's gifts to her father by Lady Mary Fitzalan, daughter of Henry Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel, the present manuscript partly by Arundel's stepson by marriage, John Radcliffe, son of Robert Radcliffe, first Earl of Sussex. c.1553-6.

Later in the library of John, first Baron Lumley (c.1533-1609), collector.

Of the Knowledeg whiche Maketh a Wise Man

First published in London, 1533.

See ElT 9.

Letters

Letter(s)
*ElT 3
Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, 25 March [1528]. 1528.

Wilson, p. 1.

*ElT 4
Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, 18 November 1532. 1532

Wilson, pp. 7-10.

*ElT 5

Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, 8 December 1532.

In: A folio composite volume of state letters, in various hands, c.560 leaves.

Wilson, pp. 11-15. Facsimile page in Lehmberg, facing p. 32.

*ElT 6

Autograph letter signed, to the Duke of Norfolk, 14 March 1532.

In: A folio composite volume of state letters, in various hands, c.212 leaves.

Wilson, pp. 2-5.

*ElT 7
Autograph letter signed, to Sir John Hackett, 6 April 1533. 1533.

Wilson, pp. 16-17.

*ElT 8
Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, [April or May 1533]. 1533.

Wilson, pp. 18-19.

*ElT 9

Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, [1533?], originally accompanying (no longer present) a presentation exemplum of Elyot's Of the Knowledeg whiche Maketh a Wise Man (London, 1533).

In: A folio composite volume of original letters, in various hands.

Wilson, pp. 22-3.

*ElT 10
Autograph letter signed, to the Viscountess Lisle, 3 December [1533]. 1533.

Wilson, pp. 20-1.

*ElT 11
Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, [Autumn 1534-Spring 1535]. 1534-35.

Wilson, pp. 24-5.

*ElT 12

Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, [6 March 1535/6].

In: A folio composite volume of state letters and papers, largely relating to the dissolution of the monasteries, in various hands, c.395 leaves.

Wilson, pp. 26-8.

*ElT 13

Autograph letter signed, to Thomas Cromwell, [Autumn, 1536].

In: A folio composite volume of state letters, in various hands, c.410 leaves.

Wilson, pp. 30-2, with a facsimile on p. x. Facsimile also in Henry VIII Man and Monarch, ed. Susan Doran (British Library, 2009), p. 254.

*ElT 14
Autograph epistle signed, in Latin, written by Elyot in his italic hand on the flyleaf of a printed exemplum of The Dictionary of Syr T. E. Knyght (London, 1538) presented by him to Thomas Cromwell. 1538.

Wilson, pp. 33-5, with an English translation on pp. 35-7.

Documents

Will
ElT 15
Probate copy of Elyot's last will and testament, 1546. 1546.