Catalogue Entry: THEM00103

'A letter of the Reverend Father Peter Iesuite'

Author: Unknown

Metadata: Early 1688 or later, in English (presumably translated) , c. 3,405 words, 6 pp. on 3 ff.

Source: R.16.38. 442, Trinity College Library, Cambridge, UK

[Normalized Text] [Diplomatic Text]

Custodial History

SL293 was bought at the Sotheby sale by 'Hadley' (A. de Coppet) for £10 and subsequently sold at the Sotheby's de Coppet sale on 29 May 1956 for £40. It originally included another slightly variant copy of the letter on 8 pp.: the present location of this other copy is unknown.

Sotheby Lot

Part of SL293

Contents

Full title reads: 'A letter of y^e R^nd ffather Peter Iesuite, Almoner to y^e King of England written to y^e R^nd Father le Chaise Confessor to y^e most Christian King [i.e. Louis XIV], touching y^e present afairs of England'. The original (if the document is genuine) dates from early 1688, having reference to the pregnancy of Queen Mary Beatrice and the introduction of the Jesuit Thomas Fairfax to Magdalen College (9 Jan. 1688). However, the document depicts the Jesuits as so thoroughly devious and scheming that it seems unlikely it was really written by a member of the order. It concerns the progress of James II's efforts to Roman Catholicise England.

Notes

The third leaf is in Humphrey Newton's hand.