Sir Richard Leveson, William Dugdale and John Langley: Letters in the Sutherland Papers from William Dugdale

Description:Antiquarian Interests and Reading Material

In a number of his letters, Dugdale writes about his antiquarian work, informing Leveson and Langley of exciting discoveries in this field. In one letter he describes meeting a gentleman in Paris who was also interested in antiquarianism. He writes ‘this gentleman showd me a pedigree painted in two large sheetes of paper drawne by the Duke of Northumberland himselfe of his owne family, and very finely devised’. The interest in tracing one’s ‘pedigree’ at this time reflects the importance of ancestry and lineage during the seventeenth century.

Dugdale’s letters, particularly those written to John Langley, comment on his progress in his antiquarian work. These letters indicate that Langley corroborated with Dugdale in certain areas of research. In one letter Dugdale suggests that his work was taking longer to complete than he anticipated, writing that he doubted ‘that before Lent it will not be perfected.’ He adds ‘of those monuments in Pauls and other places, I shall confer with you at our meeting, which I hope will be shortly’.

Dugdale’s letters also suggest that the three men, particularly Langley and Dugdale, may have exchanged reading material. In one letter Dugdale notes ‘if you have not yet seene this booke I knowe you will thinke your labour well bestowed’. In another he concludes ‘I hope your Eccles Historye is with you before this time’. A further letter states ‘I hope that the Rationale I told you of will be very shortly with you; for it is delivered to your cosen at the 3 crownes to be conveyed by the carrier, who was to come from hence yesterday’. This indicates that the men shared a professional interest in educational literature, and tells us that people exchanged knowledge by sharing books.

Attachments

Transcription of William Dugdale Letter (31 KB)