‘I am no land man’: Sir Richard Leveson at Sea
Sir Richard and Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615) collaborated in a professional capacity during the late sixteenth century amidst fears of invasion by Spanish naval forces. Many letters which Sir ...
‘My very lovinge cosin’: Sir Richard’s relationship with Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615)
Many of Vice Admiral Sir Richard Leveson’s letters in the Sutherland Papers are written to his cousin Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615).
The two men were closely associated in both a professional ...
Armada Weapons
The document above is a summary of weaponry for 1000 footemen made in September 1598. The document tells us that there were 667 men armed with pikes, and 333 armed with ‘shot’, 222 in the form of ‘muskette’ ...
Bargain and Sale of Greyfriars Monastery, Stafford, 1581
The document above is the Bargain and Sale made between Sir Walter Leveson (1550-1602) and Matthew Donnington, concerning the ‘Gray Fryars Monastery’ in Stafford.
Dated 28th April 1581, the document ...
Chapel Chorlton, 1591
Amongst papers relating to Eccleshall in the Sutherland Papers is a survey of Chapel Chorlton made in 1591, when Sir Walter Leveson (1550-1602) owned lands in the area. ‘A note taken of Sir Walter Leveson ...
Crime in Elizabethan England
The image above shows a warrant from the Earl of Leicester and Sir Francis Walsingham dated June 1588. The warrant, which was found amongst the official papers of Sir John Leveson of Halling, is for the ...
Defending England from Invasion: From Soldiers to Cooks
Sir John Leveson’s 1589 Summary of Kentish Defences also provides an insight into the involvement of ‘unarmed’ men in defending against foreign invasion.
Indeed, it wasn’t just the armed forces that ...
Defending the Nation!
After the battles of the Armada in 1588, a fear of foreign invasion continued to dominate English military defense tactics. This is evident in the Summary of Defences at Kent produced by Sir John Leveson ...
Elizabethan Codsall
Amongst the wealth of documents relating to lands in Staffordshire during the sixteenth century are two leases relating to Codsall, made in 1560 and 1596. The Leveson family became extensive landowners ...
John Leveson of London & Wolverhampton
The Sutherland Papers contain many rentals relating to the lands owned by the Leveson family. One particularly intriguing rental dates back to 1545-50 and details the lands owned by John Leveson of London ...
Plan of Cherrington, 1576
The image above shows a plan of fields in Cherrington made in 1576. The plan includes a huge amount of detail telling us about the township of Cherrington during the late sixteenth century.
Landmarks ...
Preparing for Invasion: The Threat of Spanish Invasion!
Sir John Leveson’s papers include a great deal of official correspondence written to the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, William, Lord Cobham. This letter dated 2nd April 1588 addressed to Cobham from the Privy ...
Richard Glover
Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615) served as Deputy Lieutenant for Kent during the late sixteenth century. Following the Spanish Armada of 1588, authorities throughout England were extremely concerned ...
Richard Leveson (d. 1561)
Richard Leveson was the son of James Leveson (c.1500-1547)and his first wife Alice Wrotteseley (d. 1525), daughter of Sir Richard Wrottesley of Wrottesely. The Sutherland Papers includes Richard's original ...
Secret Marriages in Sixteenth Century England by Mary Partridge
As part of her work with the Sutherland Papers, Mary Partridge, a PhD student from the University of Birmingham, has examined letters, interrogatories and depositions relating to the secret marriage of ...
Sir John Leveson & Queen Elizabeth I
A particularly notable document amongst Sir John Leveson’s papers is a document dated 1597 which is signed by Queen Elizabeth I herself. Her signature ‘Elizabeth R’ is followed with the words ‘By the ...
Sir John Leveson: Land and Property
Amongst Sir John Leveson’s personal papers is a document listing all of the lands which he owned. The document reflects the extent of the Leveson family’s wealth and influence as landowners at this time.
The ...
Sir John Leveson's Household Accounts
The Sutherland Papers contain the household accounts kept for Sir John Leveson by his servants and possibly by himself. The accounts can be dated as preceeding 1585 as they refer to John’s first wife ...