Add MS 4158 - State Papers of John Thurloe

GEMMS Manuscript ID
GEMMS-MANUSCRIPT- 113
(old series: GEMMS-MANUSCRIPT-1491)
Title
State Papers of John Thurloe
Shelfmark
Add MS 4158
Creation Date
1657 - 1660
Repository
Contents Note

Miscellaneous state papers and letters belonging to John Thurloe, Secretary to the Council of State during the Protectorate. One of the letters describes the key points of a sermon delivered by Christopher Feake, Fifth Monarchist (f.124).

Material Features

Paper. 305 -350mm x 205-235mm. 207ff + f. 101* + 159* + 161* + 189* + 192* (plus 4 flyleaves at the front and 4 flyleaves at the rear). Bound in brown polished leather; gold tooling; blind stamping; gold-stamped on front and rear, 'E Bibiotheca Birchiana'. The volume was bound by the British Museum between 1772 and 1782.

Provenance

The main series of Thurloe's papers were found behind false ceiling in a garret over his chambers, and were first sold to John Somers, 1st Baron Somers (1651-1716). Somers likely came into possession of the papers contained in this volume when 67 volumes of Thurloe Papers which are now in the Bodleian Library (Rawlinson MSS A 1-A 67) were bound. The papers were subsequently "communicated" by Thomas Birch to Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor. After Hardwicke's death, the letters passed to Birch who left them to the British Library.

Acquisition

Bequeathed by Thomas Birch to the British Museum upon his death in 1766.

Source of Data

Jeanne Shami; British Library Online Catalogue of Archives and Manuscripts

Other Note

Many of the documents contained in this volume were published in Birch, Thurloe State Papers (1742), vols 6 and 7.

Sermons Contained
GEMMS record created
May 25, 2021
GEMMS record last edited
July 15, 2024