Burghley, Lord, Russell, Lady Elizabeth, and other Elizabethan courtiers

all but one concerning the settlement of Eyford in Gloucestershire (six indentures and one lease), including two indentures dated 20 January 1592, one with six wax seals appended and a second with five wax seals appended, signatures including those of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Lady Elizabeth Russell (“Elizabeth Russell Douager”) (4), her sons Edward Hoby and Thomas Posthumous Hoby (3), the courtier and Queen's Champion Sir Henry Lee (2), the Earl of Huntington, Lord Hundson, his son George Carey, Michael Hickes, and Anthony Cooke, 18 January 1592 to 21 March 1608, the final unrelated document signed by the ambassador Sir Henry Unton, 1587, all of the documents with contemporary endorsements and vellum seal tags, 18 red wax seals still appended, dust staining, some of the seals chipped, one or two with significant loss, occasional rodent damage at edges, slight smudging to Burghley's signature

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A remarkable collection of signatures of Elizabethan courtiers. Eyford was a small parish in Gloucestershire given over to sheep farming that belonged to one of the most powerful women at the Elizabethan court, the twice-widowed Elizabeth Russell (1528-1609). She was one of the celebrated and learned daughters of Sir Anthony Cooke; Lord Burghley and Sir Nicholas Bacon were her brothers-in-law, and she was an aunt to both Sir Francis Bacon and Robert Cecil, later Earl of Salisbury.