What is a Primary Source?
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Page created 2005, Updated 28 March 2010
Copyright © 2007-2010, J. Stephan Edwards
May not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the author.
Manuscript Primary Sources:
British Library, London :
Additional 10617 – Seventeenth-century transcriptions of National Archives Public Record Office, Kings Bench 8/22–25
Additional 12065 – Sixteenth-century transcript of John Dudley’s Scaffold Speech
Additional 14024 – Seventeenth- or eighteenth-century transcriptions of Privy Council Register from reign of Edward VI
Additional 15215 – Anonymous sixteenth-century chronicle of Wyatt’s Rebellion
Additional 18738 – Letter from Privy Council dated 15 July 1553
Additional 22563 – 1833 transcript of letter from Privy Council to the Sheriff of Wiltshire in the name of Queen Jane,
7 July 1553
Additional 26748 – Minutes of the Privy Council for late-1553
Additional 33230 – Letter from officials in Kent noting they had proclaimed Mary as Queen, 19 July 1553
Additional 34152 – Letters from persons in Kent related to Wyatt’s Rebellion
Additional 48036 – Seventeenth-century transcript of Acts of Privy Council for Mary and Philip
Cotton Caligula B IX/1 – Notes on matters of the succession in England, 1556–1570
Cotton Galba B XII – Originals of letters from Edward and the Privy Council to the English Ambassadors in Brussels
Cotton Julius B IX – Register of Grants, etc. under the Great Seal, 1551–1553
Cotton Julius F VI – Sixteenth-century transcription of a fifteenth-century treatise against accession to the Crown by a woman and of proclamation of accession of Queen Jane
Cotton Titus B II – Letter from Mary to Earl of Sussex to raise forces in her defense, 29 July 1553
Cotton Vespasian F III – Mary’s proclamation against Sir Thomas Wyatt
Cotton Vitellius F XII – St Edmund’s Chronicle of London, 1189–1555
Egerton 2009–2012 – Four-volume set of madrigal, motets, etc. in four voices, including a ballad about Queen Jane
Egerton 2148 – Thomas Hoby’s “Booke of the Trauaile and lief of me”
Egerton 2642 – A sixteenth-century almanac, includes chronicle of events of 1553
Egerton 2986 – Letter from Francis Hastings reporting capture of Henry Grey, February 1554
Harley 284 – Contemporary transcript of John Dudley’s scaffold speech
Harley 353 – Contemporary copies of sixteenth-century letters and papers
Harley 416 – Papers of John Foxe, accessible only via British Library microfilm
Harley 422 – Papers of John Foxe, accessible only via British Library microfilm
Harley 424 – Papers of John Foxe, accessible only via British Library microfilm
Harley 425 – Papers of John Foxe, accessible only via British Library microfilm
Harley 523 – Contemporary copies of papers of the Privy Council for reign of Edward VI
Harley 2194 – Late-seventeenth-century transcript of records of Lords High Steward of England
Harley 2342 – Lady Jane Grey’s prayer-book. Accessible only via British Library microfilm.
Harley 2370 – De Arte Moriendi, containing copy of Jane Grey’s letter to her sister, February 1554
Lansdowne 2 – William Cecil’s copy of Jane Grey’s letter to Thomas Harding
Lansdowne 3 – Original letters to and from the Privy Council, July 1553
Lansdowne103 – Papers of William Cecil, Lord Burghley
Lansdowne 104 – Papers of William Cecil, Lord Burghley
Lansdowne 198 – Royal Proclamations 1504–1642
Lansdowne 1236 – Original letters, including several under autograph signature of Queen Jane, 11 July 1553
Royal 12A XXVI – Late-seventeenth-century transcript of John Dudley’s speech from the scaffold
Royal 18C XXIV – Original register of all bills signed by King and Privy Council from 19 October 1551
Sloane 1086 – Book of heraldic emblems, including Grey family banner
Sloane 3011 – Regole et Institutioni della Lingua Thoscana , by Michelangelo Florio, inscribed to Lady Jane Grey
Cambridge University Library :
Dd. XI.46, Regole de la lingua Thoscana, Michelangelo Florio
Corporation of London Record Office :
The Repertories of the Court of Aldermen, 1485–1835.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington , D.C. :
Loseley L.b.24 – Letter from Queen Jane to Thomas Cawarden, 16 July 1553
Loseley L.b.341 – Letter from Queen Mary to Thomas Cawarden, January 1554
Loseley L.b.342 – Letters Patent of Edward VI granting offices to Thomas Cawarden
Loseley L.b.503 – Letter from Privy Council to Thomas Cawarden, 9 July 1553
Loseley L.b.504 – Letter from Henry Grey to Thomas Cawarden, 16 July 1553
Public Record Office of the National Archives ( UK) :
C 1/1289 – Records of lawsuit, related to Chancery 1/1301
C 1/1301 – Lawsuit catalogued as “time of Queen Jane”
E 101/631 – Inventory of John Dudley’s properties seized in August 1553
E 154/2 – Inventory of John Dudley’s properties seized in August 1553
E 154/6 – Inventory of John Dudley’s properties seized in August 1553
KB 8/22–25 – Documents related to trial of Jane and Guildford Dudley et al., 13 November 1553
LR 2/118 – Inventory of John Dudley’s properties seized in August 1553
LR 2/119 – Inventory of John Dudley’s properties seized in August 1553
LR 2/120 – Inventory of John Dudley’s properties seized in August 1553
SP 10/5/4–5, Extract 94/2/1–2 – Jane Grey’s letter to Thomas Seymour, 1548
SP 10/15/79 – Letters and papers of the reign of Edward VI
Hatfield House (UK) :
Salisbury 1 – Drafts of diplomatic letters, July 1553
Salisbury 133 – Documents related to trial of Thomas Seymour, 1549
Salisbury 138 – Documents related to trial of Thomas Seymour, 1549
Salisbury 150 – Documents related to trial of Thomas Seymour, 1549
Salisbury 198 – Diplomatic letters, June and July 1553
All accessible only via microfilm at Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC,Folger Shakespeare Library microfilm number 164, reels 1, 30, 39, and 52.
Surrey History Centre, Woking (UK) :
Loseley COR 3 – Original letters from Queen Jane and Privy Council to official in Surrey
Loseley 2014 – Original letters from Queen Jane and Privy Council to official in Surrey
Loseley 6729/3 – Original letters under autograph signature of Queen Jane
Unclassified 1922 – Original copy of proclamation of accession of Queen Jane
Printed Primary Sources :
Acts of the Privy Council of England, New Series, Vol. III . A.D. 1550–1552. Edited by John Roche Dasent. London: HMSO, 1891.
Anon. The life, death and actions of the most chast, learned, and religious lady, the Lady Iane Gray, daughter to the Duke of Suffolke Containing foure principall discourses written with her owne hands. The first an admonition to such as are weake in faith: the second a catechisme: the third an exhortation to her sister: and the last her words at her death. London: Printed by G. Eld, for John Wright, 1615. Accessible via Early English Books Online.
Ascham, Roger. The Scholemaster, or plaine and perfite way of teachyng children, to understand, write, and speake, the latin tong, but specially purposed for the private brynging up of youth in Jentlemen and Noble mens houses.... London: John Daye, 1570. Accessible via Early English Books Online.
Ascham, Roger. The Whole Works of Roger Ascham. Edited by J. A. Giles. New York: AMS Press, 1965; reprinted from edition of London: John Russell Smith, 1864.
Calendar of Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic of the Reign of Henry VIII, 1509–1545, Preserved in the Public Record Office, the British Museum, and Elsewhere in England. Edited by James Gairdner. London: Published for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Longman, l826 and Vaduz: Kraus Reprint, 1965.
Calendar of Letters and State Papers Relating to English Affairs, preserved principally in the Archives of Simancas, Vol. 1: Elizabeth I: 1558–1567. Edited by Martin A. Hume. Nendeln, Liechtestein: Kraus Reprints, 1971.
Calendar of Letters, Despatches, and State Papers relating to negotiations between England and Spain, Vol. XI: Edward VI and Mary. Edited by Royall Tyler. London: HMSO, 1916 and Nendeln, Lichtenstein, 1969.
Calendar of Letters, Despatches, and State Papers relating to negotiations between England and Spain, Vol. XII: Mary I: January–July 1554. Edited by Royall Tyler. London: HMSO, 1916 and Nendeln, Lichtenstein, 1969.
The Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London. Edited by John Gough Nichols. London: The Camden Society, 1852.
The Chronicle of Queen Jane, and of Two Years of Queen Mary, and especially of the Rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyat. Edited by John Gough Nichols. London: Camden Society, 1850.
Commendone, Giovanni Francesco. “Il Successi d’Inghilterra.” The Accession, Coronation, and Marriage of Mary Tudor, as related in four manuscripts of the Escorial. Translated by Cesare V. Malfatti. Barcelona, 1956.
A conference between the Lady Jane Grey and F. Fecknam a Romish priest, concerning the blessed sacrament; whilest she was prisoner in the Tower of London, and was beheaded on the Green there, Feb. 12. 1554. Together with her behaviour and last speech and prayers at her suffering. London: 1688.
Edward VI. The ‘Chronicle’ and Political Papers of King Edward VI. Edited by W. K. Jordan. Ithaca: New York: Cornell University Press, 1966.
Edward VI. England’s Boy King: The Diary of Edward VI, 1537–1553. Edited by Jonathan North. Welwyn Garden City, UK: Ravenhall Books, 2005.
English Historical Documents 1485–1558. Edited by C. H. Williams. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1967.
Fabyan, Robert. The New Chronicles of England and France, in two parts. London: Printed for F. C. and J. Rivington, 1811.
Florio, Michelangelo. Historia de la vita e de la morte de l’Illustrissima Signora Giovanna Graia, gia regina eletta a publicata d'Inghilterra. Middelburgh, Zeeland: Johan Radermacher, 1607.
Florio, Michelangelo. Regole de la Lingua Thoscana, edited by Giuliano Pellegrini. Firenze: Sansoni, 1954.
Foxe, John. Actes and Monuments of these latter and perillous dayes touching matters of the Church .... London: John Day, 1563.
Grey, Jane. Brief Confessional Writings: Grey, Stubbes, Livingstone and Clarksone. Edited by Mary Ellen Lamb. Vol. 2 of The Early Modern Englishwoman: A Facsimile Library of Essential Works, Series 1, Printed Writings, 1500–1640, Part 2, edited by Betty S. Travitsky and Patrick Cullen. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate, 2001.
Grey, Jane. An epistle of the Ladye Iane a righte vertuous woman, to a learned man of late falne from the truth of Gods most holy word, for fear of the worlde. London: John Daye, 1554. Accessible via Early English Books Online.
Grey, Jane. “A French Letter Concerning Lady Jane Grey and Queen Mary.” In La révolte du conte de Warwick contre le roi Edward IV, edited by J. A. Giles. London: Caxton Society, 1849 and New York: B. Franklin, 1967.
Grey, Jane. Here in this booke ye haue a godly epistle made by a faithful Christian A comunication betwene Feckna and the Lady Iane Dudley. A letter that she wrote to her syster Lady Katherin. The ende of the Ladye Iane vpon the scaffolde. Ye shal haue also herein a godly prayer made by maister Iohn Knokes. London: Successor of A. Scoloker, 1554. Accessible via Early English Books Online.
Grey, Jane. The life, death and actions of the most chast, learned, and religious lady, the Lady Iane Gray,daughter to the Duke of Suffolke Containing foure principall discourses written with her owne hands. The first an admonition to such as are weake in faith: the second a catechisme: the third an exhortation to her sister: and the last her words at her death. London: G. Eld, for John Wright, 1615 and London: I. Haviland for John Wright, 1636. Accessible via Early English Books Online.
Grey, Lady Jane. Memoirs and Literary Remains of Lady Jane Grey. Edited by Harris Nicolas. London: Henry Colburn, 1832.
Haynes, Samuel. A Collection of State Papers, relating to Affairs in the reigns of King Henry the Eighth, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, from the year 1542–1570. London: 1740.
Hayward, John. The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth. Edited by Barrett L. Beer. Kent, OH and London: Kent State University Press, 1993.
Hoby, Thomas. “A Booke of the Travaile and Lief of Me, Thomas Hoby, w[i]th Diverse Things Woorth the Notinge.” Edited by Edgar Powell. The Camden Miscellany, Vol. 10. London: The Royal Historical Society, 1902.
Letter and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of HVIII, Vol. XII, Part II. Edited by James Gairdner. London: HMSO, 1891 and Vaduz: Kraus Reprint, 1965.
Machyn, Henry. The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, from A.D. 1550 to A.D. 1563. Edited by John Gough Nichols. London: The Camden Society, 1848.
Noailles, Antoine de, Mssrs. Ambassades de Messieurs de Noailles en Angleterre. 3 vols. Leyde: Dessaint and Saillant, 1763.
Original Letters Relative to the English Reformation. 2 vols. Edited by Hastings Robinson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1846 and 1847.
The Parliamentary History of England, from the earliest period to the year 1803. 30 vols. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, & Browne, 1806–1820.
Parliaments of England, 1213-1702, Part I: Members of Parliament. London, 1878.
Records of the Borough of Leicester, Being a series of Extracts from the Archives of the Corporation of Leicester, 1509–1603. Vol. 3. Edited by Mary Bateson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1905.
Speed, John. The history of Great Britaine under the conquests of ye Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans Their originals, manners, warres, coines & seales: with yesuccessions, lives, acts & issues of the English monarchs from Iulius Caesar, to our most gracious soueraigne King Iames. London: William Hall and John Beale, 1611. Accessible via Early English Books Online.
The Statutes of the Realm. Printed by command of His Majesty King George the Third. From Original Records and Authentic Manuscripts. Vol. 3. London: 1817.
Strype, John, ed. Ecclesiastical Memorials, relating chiefly to Religion and the Reformation of it, and the emergencies of the Church of England under King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, and Queen Mary. 3 vols. Translated by John Strype. London: John Wyat, 1721 and Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1822.
Wingfield, Robert. Vita Mariæ Reginæ. Edited and translated by Diarmaid MacCulloch. Camden Miscellany XXVIII, 4th series, vol. 29. London: Royal Historical Society, 1984.
Wriothesley, Charles. A Chronicle of England during the Reign of the Tudors, from A.D. 1485 to 1559. Vol. 2. Edited by William Douglas Hamilton. London and New York: The Camden Society, 1872.