Description:

Elizabeth I of England Queen



Elizabeth I’s Reign Early Manuscript 


“The Condicon of this obligation is first that whereas abovebound Edmund Goodheir…”


1p ADS on vellum signed by two individuals at bottom. Written in Ovenden, England on June 10, 1597. The document features four lines in Latin at top, possibly a gloss, followed by 35 lines in English comprising the bulk of the document. Beautifully inscribed early modern calligraphy in three sizes of script. Signed at bottom left by Robert Doughtie and an unknown signee at right. Two vellum ribbons dangle from the bottom. Docketed verso: “[1596]. 10th June 39. Eliz. / Edmund Goodheir to Robert Doughty / Bond for Performance of Covenants / Ovenden.” With expected overall wear including deep folds, else very good to near fine. 20” x 14” overall including ribbons.

 

This contract was signed in the spring of 1597, or, as the court scribes recorded it, in the 39th year of Elizabeth I’s reign (she had ascended the throne in 1558.) This was during the so-called “second reign” of Elizabeth I, when the aging queen faced growing unpopularity that prompted her to rely on propaganda and espionage. High taxes, several wars, and a series of poor harvests beleaguered the common people. Elizabeth’s government was increasingly dysfunctional. The Queen granted monopolies and privileges to irresponsible court favorites, like the Earl of Essex, and there was bitter in-fighting among her Privy Councilors. Despite the social, economic, and political hardships, English literature and theater flourished, led by the likes of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

 

The subjects of our document, Edmund Goodheir and Robert Doughtie, hailed from the northern-central region of Yorkshire, England. Ovenden is located close to Halifax, which in turn is approximately 20 miles southwest of Leeds and 40 miles southwest of York. Elizabeth I’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth of York, came from this region.

 

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, an exhaustive encyclopedia compiled by editors Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, and Peter McClure, identifies the surname Goodheir (alternately spelled as Gooder, Goodere, Gooders, Gooda, and Goodeare) as historically present in West Riding, Yorkshire. The editors cite a reference from the International Genealogical Index that suggests Goodheirs had lived in Yorkshire from as early as the 1550s; one Thome Goodheir lived in Elland, Yorkshire in 1559 (p. 1088). This could be a relative of our Edmund Goodheir. Likewise, the Doughtie family (alternately spelled as Doughty, Douty, Dowty, Daughty, Defty, Dufty, Doty, Duty, etc.) lived in the same area; an Edward Doughty lived in Halifax, Yorkshire in 1569 (p. 755).

 

Further research on the individuals and places mentioned in this document should yield fascinating discoveries!

 

A handsome document, dating from the waning reign of the Virgin Queen!



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS. ALSO, ALL PACKAGES SHIPPED FROM OUR OFFICES REQUIRE A DIRECT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000