Description:As part of his work with the Sutherland Papers, Dr. Neil Younger has examined the correspondence of William Lambarde and John Leveson. Neil has produced interpretation and transcriptions of these letters which can be seen by clicking on the images on the left.
Who was William Lambarde?
Neil writes that William Lambarde was 'a man of genuinely national importance' in Elizabethan history. Best known for his pioneering Perambulation of Kent , Lambarde is often attributed with writing the first county history of England. Justice of the Peace in Kent, Neil tells us that Lambarde was associated with 'many of the leading intellectual and legal figures of his day'.
William Lambarde and Sir John Leveson (1555-1615)
William Lambarde was a Justice of the Peace in Kent, the county for which Sir John Leveson served as Deputy Lieutenent under William Brooke, Lord Cobham, during the late sixteenth century.
The letters exchanged between the two men concern matters of local government and family business, providing what Neil describes as 'a panorama of Elizabethan government'.
The image above shows a letter written to John Leveson dated 6th November 1585. Neil's transcription and interpretation of the letter features below:
I send you (Good Syr) togeather with the hartie Commendations of us all, this packet, praying you to give me the conveighance of that to Master Streaton by the same messengear that shal delyver that which is directed to Chetham: The other to Toltingtroe, you may send at your best leasure. That also for the discharge of the lykorars [?lecherous?] young man, may abide suche tyme as you shall thinke good.
I pray you (Good Syr) let us have your companie to morowe, as you promised: and bring your Neighbour the Constable of Shamele with youe, that wee may talke with him, as with the others. And so, till them, I take my leave, and committe you to God. 6 November .1585.
Youres muche beholden, W. Lambarde
This letter deals with routine local business, organising the delivery of paperwork to local officials.
Click on the images on the left to learn more about the correspondence of William Lambarde and John Leveson and to read Neil's intepretation and transcription of these letters.
To learn more, follow the link below to read Dr. Neil Younger's article The Correspondence of William Lambarde and John Leveson .
Dr. Neil Younger created these pages whilst working with the Centre for Reformation and Early Modern Studies at the University of Birmingham. Click on the link below to learn more about the Centre.