Neil Younger
@neilayounger.bsky.social
Historian of early modern England at the Open University. Convenor of the IHR Tudor & Stuart Seminar. Live-tweeting the reign of Elizabeth I. New(ish) book on Sir Christopher Hatton: https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526159496/
17 November 1582: It's Accession Day! 24 years since Elizabeth came to the throne. Sadly, the plague raging in London means that celebrations are muted - no big tournament this time. However, there are records from across the country that bells were rung, candles lit, sermons ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
17 November 1582: It's Accession Day! 24 years since Elizabeth came to the throne. Sadly, the plague raging in London means that celebrations are muted - no big tournament this time. However, there are records from across the country that bells were rung, candles lit, sermons ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
15 November 1582: In Mortlake, Dr John Dee is conversing with angels again, along with his scryer Edward Kelley, with whom he has recently reconciled. Dee starts a new record book today, his Quartus Liber Mysteriorum, and they use a 'showstone', or crystal ball. They speak ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
15 November 1582: In Mortlake, Dr John Dee is conversing with angels again, along with his scryer Edward Kelley, with whom he has recently reconciled. Dee starts a new record book today, his Quartus Liber Mysteriorum, and they use a 'showstone', or crystal ball. They speak ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
14 November 1582: Lots of letters for Lord Burghley today. First, Philip Sidney, passing on a letter from his father Henry; he'd intended to visit in person, but Burghley is so grief-stricken he does not, not least because he and Burghley's late son-in-law, Wentworth 'weare ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 14, 2025 at 12:09 PM
14 November 1582: Lots of letters for Lord Burghley today. First, Philip Sidney, passing on a letter from his father Henry; he'd intended to visit in person, but Burghley is so grief-stricken he does not, not least because he and Burghley's late son-in-law, Wentworth 'weare ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
... various counties in the west, with orders for their shipping, arrangements for pay etc, with a little schedule for which messenger will deliver the letters. Walsingham says that he, Ormond and the Council urged the queen to raise the soldiers' pay, but she refused. Good Queen Bess indeed. 4/
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
... various counties in the west, with orders for their shipping, arrangements for pay etc, with a little schedule for which messenger will deliver the letters. Walsingham says that he, Ormond and the Council urged the queen to raise the soldiers' pay, but she refused. Good Queen Bess indeed. 4/
13 November 1582: The earl of Leicester writes to Burghley with condolences on the death of his son-in-law, excusing their lateness with a disturbing tale of his own; he'd been at his house at Wanstead, but one of his servants fell sick of the plague, and since everyone had ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
13 November 1582: The earl of Leicester writes to Burghley with condolences on the death of his son-in-law, excusing their lateness with a disturbing tale of his own; he'd been at his house at Wanstead, but one of his servants fell sick of the plague, and since everyone had ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
12 November 1582: The court of James VI continues to be much more eventful than that of his cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth's envoy, Robert Bowes, has, rather extraordinarily, been hunting for a casket, perhaps this one, containing the originals of the (in)famous Casket Letters from... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
12 November 1582: The court of James VI continues to be much more eventful than that of his cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth's envoy, Robert Bowes, has, rather extraordinarily, been hunting for a casket, perhaps this one, containing the originals of the (in)famous Casket Letters from... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond, favourite of Elizabeth I and builder of this, the 'best example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland', marries Elizabeth Sheffield today, two months or so after the death of his estranged first wife, also, conveniently, named Elizabeth. 6/
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond, favourite of Elizabeth I and builder of this, the 'best example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland', marries Elizabeth Sheffield today, two months or so after the death of his estranged first wife, also, conveniently, named Elizabeth. 6/
8 November 1582: Mary Queen of Scots writes to Elizabeth, an immensely long letter (about 5,000 words in translation). Mary seems to think she's dying and is writing a sort of testament. There's endless rehearsal of the many wrongs done to her going back to her ejection from ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
8 November 1582: Mary Queen of Scots writes to Elizabeth, an immensely long letter (about 5,000 words in translation). Mary seems to think she's dying and is writing a sort of testament. There's endless rehearsal of the many wrongs done to her going back to her ejection from ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Also today, Lord Seton writes in elegant Italian to the head of the Jesuits in Rome, informing him of events in Scotland (which he surely knows); clearly the plan for an invasion must be delayed but he hopes the wheel of fortune may turn again to make it possible. He sends regards to the Pope. 7/
November 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Also today, Lord Seton writes in elegant Italian to the head of the Jesuits in Rome, informing him of events in Scotland (which he surely knows); clearly the plan for an invasion must be delayed but he hopes the wheel of fortune may turn again to make it possible. He sends regards to the Pope. 7/
An amusing note in the Privy Council records yesterday about a senior lawyer called Price who was apparently given a commission to search for the Jesuit Robert Persons (who left England over a year ago) in two or three houses in Hampshire but ... 3/
November 4, 2025 at 5:13 PM
An amusing note in the Privy Council records yesterday about a senior lawyer called Price who was apparently given a commission to search for the Jesuit Robert Persons (who left England over a year ago) in two or three houses in Hampshire but ... 3/
Mixed conditions in the Lakes this weekend.
November 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Mixed conditions in the Lakes this weekend.
I read that one Lawrence Shipway, a mason-architect, signs a contract today for the rebuilding of Standish church near Wigan. It was rebuilt over the next few years in 'a blended Gothic and Renaissance style' - sort-of Tuscan columns and Gothic arches, and a nice Tudor roof. Very odd. 6/
October 29, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I read that one Lawrence Shipway, a mason-architect, signs a contract today for the rebuilding of Standish church near Wigan. It was rebuilt over the next few years in 'a blended Gothic and Renaissance style' - sort-of Tuscan columns and Gothic arches, and a nice Tudor roof. Very odd. 6/
29 October 1582: Roger Manners writes to his nephew the earl of Rutland from the court at Windsor. Elizabeth, he says, is very well, and rides abroad every fair morning. She seems quite happily settled at Windsor, well away from the plague in London. Manners also notes intense ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
October 29, 2025 at 11:28 AM
29 October 1582: Roger Manners writes to his nephew the earl of Rutland from the court at Windsor. Elizabeth, he says, is very well, and rides abroad every fair morning. She seems quite happily settled at Windsor, well away from the plague in London. Manners also notes intense ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Also, right outside the archive reading room, quite a nice portrait (well, a rather inferior version, but ...) of someone I've been writing about quite a bit recently, the duke of Lennox, splendidly ruffed, who has still not left Scotland.
October 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Also, right outside the archive reading room, quite a nice portrait (well, a rather inferior version, but ...) of someone I've been writing about quite a bit recently, the duke of Lennox, splendidly ruffed, who has still not left Scotland.
No thread today on account of an archive trip to the wonder of the world that is Longleat. Definitely worth seven hours of driving to return with a haul of 1,306 images of manuscripts ...
October 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
No thread today on account of an archive trip to the wonder of the world that is Longleat. Definitely worth seven hours of driving to return with a haul of 1,306 images of manuscripts ...
It's hardly an original observation, but it really is astonishing how accomplished and penetrating this book is over such a wide range of themes
October 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
It's hardly an original observation, but it really is astonishing how accomplished and penetrating this book is over such a wide range of themes
26 October 1582: The Privy Council (after a bit of a false start by the clerk) write to Edmund Freke, bishop of Norwich; apparently 'a great nomber of seditious bookes latelie written and published by one Browne to the derogation of the discipline established in the Churche of ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
October 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
26 October 1582: The Privy Council (after a bit of a false start by the clerk) write to Edmund Freke, bishop of Norwich; apparently 'a great nomber of seditious bookes latelie written and published by one Browne to the derogation of the discipline established in the Churche of ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Walter Ralegh is also impressing Burghley, who writes some lengthy notes today on how to bring peace to Munster, drawing on Ralegh's advice (he recently returned from Ireland). Characteristically, Burghley also sketches genealogies of some of the key players to keep them straight in his head. 4/
October 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Walter Ralegh is also impressing Burghley, who writes some lengthy notes today on how to bring peace to Munster, drawing on Ralegh's advice (he recently returned from Ireland). Characteristically, Burghley also sketches genealogies of some of the key players to keep them straight in his head. 4/
25 October 1582: A beautifully-written (proto-) bill of mortality from London for the week ending today, showing the impact of plague. The numbers don't quite seem to add up to me, but admire the penmanship. 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
October 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
25 October 1582: A beautifully-written (proto-) bill of mortality from London for the week ending today, showing the impact of plague. The numbers don't quite seem to add up to me, but admire the penmanship. 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Meanwhile, Walsingham is doing his master-spy stuff; he's obtained a letter of Mary, queen of Scots from six weeks ago and sends it to be deciphered. The letter contains some vague but suggestive comments hinting at the enterprise we saw being developed earlier in the year, for an invasion .... 4/
October 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Meanwhile, Walsingham is doing his master-spy stuff; he's obtained a letter of Mary, queen of Scots from six weeks ago and sends it to be deciphered. The letter contains some vague but suggestive comments hinting at the enterprise we saw being developed earlier in the year, for an invasion .... 4/
24 October 1582: Robert Bowes reports from Edinburgh on something of a cat-and-mouse game between James VI and himself. James seems to be growing in confidence and is scheming to secure the safety of his favourites, and especially the release of Arran, to gain support to free ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
October 24, 2025 at 11:03 AM
24 October 1582: Robert Bowes reports from Edinburgh on something of a cat-and-mouse game between James VI and himself. James seems to be growing in confidence and is scheming to secure the safety of his favourites, and especially the release of Arran, to gain support to free ... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
No news from the Netherlands in the State Papers today, but a rather nasty image of the execution of Nicholas Salcedo, who had reportedly tried to murder Anjou and William of Orange on behalf of Spain in August (poison in the soup, supposedly). Lots of doubt about whether he was really guilty. 9/
October 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
No news from the Netherlands in the State Papers today, but a rather nasty image of the execution of Nicholas Salcedo, who had reportedly tried to murder Anjou and William of Orange on behalf of Spain in August (poison in the soup, supposedly). Lots of doubt about whether he was really guilty. 9/
Just bought this nice copy of Robert Bowes's correspondence. Published in 1842, donated to Jesus College Cambridge in 1885 by its Master, George Corrie, who was born in 1793. Pages almost entirely uncut. No wonder it's in such good condition.
October 22, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Just bought this nice copy of Robert Bowes's correspondence. Published in 1842, donated to Jesus College Cambridge in 1885 by its Master, George Corrie, who was born in 1793. Pages almost entirely uncut. No wonder it's in such good condition.
21 October 1582: Philip II and his ambassador in London, Mendoza, are each writing to the other. Philip is rueful about events in Scotland, especially Elizabeth's 'triumph and pride' about it (sometimes one feels Philip rather lacks the magnanimity which one might hope for). 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
October 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
21 October 1582: Philip II and his ambassador in London, Mendoza, are each writing to the other. Philip is rueful about events in Scotland, especially Elizabeth's 'triumph and pride' about it (sometimes one feels Philip rather lacks the magnanimity which one might hope for). 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Sir Christopher is back in his accustomed place in the redecorated office (and thanks again to @janetdickinson.bsky.social for giving me the print!)
October 20, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Sir Christopher is back in his accustomed place in the redecorated office (and thanks again to @janetdickinson.bsky.social for giving me the print!)