Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Lady Elizabeth Delaval

1648?–1717

Introduction

Lady Elizabeth Delaval (née Livingstone) has left a single, neatly written autograph compilation (*DeE 1), demonstrating, in Margaret Ezell's words, the extent and sophistication of a young woman's concept of literary self-representation during the Commonwealth and Restoration.

The only other manuscripts as yet known to have been left by her, and which throw even more light on her and her family life, are nine letters to her half-brother Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox. Written by his affectionate Sister in her rounded italic hand between 24 April 1665 and November 1671, they are now among the Richmond correspondence in the British Library (*DeE 2-10).

Verse and Prose

The Meditations of Lady Elizabeth Delaval

First published as The Meditations of Lady Elizabeth Delaval: written between 1662 and 1671, ed. Douglas G. Greene, Surtees Society vol. 90 (Durham, 1978).

*DeE 1
Autograph

A formal, unfinished autograph compilation by Lady Elizabeth Delaval, comprising largely prose memoirs (covering retrospectively the years 1656-71), meditations, prayers, comments on her reading matter, some verse, and copies of family letters to her.

Edited from this MS in Greene. Discussed, with a facsimile of p. 353, in Margaret J.M. Ezell, Elizabeth Delaval's Spiritual Heroine: Thoughts on Redefining Manuscript Texts by early Women Writers, EMS, 3 (1992), 216-37.

A large quarto volume of meditations, in a single italic hand, 332 pages (plus over 100 blank pages), in contemporary calf gilt.

c.1686-1703?

folio?

Letters

Letter(s)
*DeE 2 1665
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Levingstone), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on two conjugate quarto leaves, endorsed by the recipient, from Nocton, Lincolnshire, 25 April 1665.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 356 leaves, in modern half-morocco.

*DeE 3 1666
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Levingstone), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on two conjugate quarto leaves, endorsed by the recipient, from Nocton, Lincolnshire, 11 May 1666.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 356 leaves, in modern half-morocco.

*DeE 4 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E De-La-val), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on all four pages of two conjugate quarto leaves, 28 January 1670[/1].

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

*DeE 5 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Delaval), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on both sides of a single folio leaf, 10 February 1670/1.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

*DeE 6 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Delaual), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on three pages of two conjugate quarto leaves, from Seaton Delaval, 25 April 1671.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

*DeE 7 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Delaval), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, written in different directions on a folded broadsheet, 7 June 1671.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

*DeE 8 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E De-La-Val), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, written in different directions on a folded broadsheet, from Scarborough, 13 July 1671.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

*DeE 9 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Delaval), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on all four pages of two conjugate folio leaves, 1 October 1671.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

*DeE 10 1671
Autograph

Autograph letter signed (E Delaval), to the Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on three pages of two conjugate quarto leaves, 23 November 1671, endorsed as received on 16 December.

A folio composite volume of letters sent to Charles Stuart (1639-72), third Duke of Richmond and sixth Duke of Lennox, in various hands and paper sizes, 478 leaves.

Contents