Naunton, Sir Robert

Royal presentation manuscript copy written in the fine scribal secretary hand of Thomas Lord, Naunton's secretary, Seventeen pages with extensive unique additional side-notes addressed to King Charles I, in many cases comparing elements of Elizabeth's reign to that of Charles, the body text written on the right side of the page, the side-notes then added on the left side by the same scribe in a slightly smaller hand, with catch-words and contemporary pagination, eighty-six pages, oblong 8vo (150 x 205 mm), [1634]; occasional very slight spotting. Contemporary brown morocco elaborately gilt with a centrepiece stamp of the Royal Arms of Charles I, crowned and with lion and unicorn supporters, topped with the initials "CR," cornerpieces of crowned fleur-de-lys and Tudor roses, within an elaborate frame filled with a semé of small flowers, remains of blue silk ties, edges gilt, housed in a brown morocco-backed folding-box; upper hinge weak.

Sir Herbert Conyers Surtees, 1858-1933 (armorial bookplate) — Hans Furstenberg, 1890-1982 (bookplate) — Bernard Breslauer. acquisition: Bernard Quaritch, 1987

CELM NaR 31; R. Naunton, Fragmenta Regalia, ed. R.E. Schreiber (London: printed for presentation to Members of the Roxburghe Club, 2002)

"...If we search farther into [Queen Elizabeth I's] intellectuals, and abilities: the whole course of hir goverment deciphers them to the admiracion of posteritie. For it was full of magnanimitie tempered with Justice, piety, and pittie; and (to speake truly) noted but with one acte of stayne, or taynte. All her deprivacions either of life, or libertie, being legall, or necessitated: She was learned (hir times and sex considered) beyond common beleife..."

The preeminent copy of Naunton's renowned character sketches of Elizabeth and her Court. The text was composed, like so many other royal presentations, as an attempt to persuade the monarch to act in the author's favour. Naunton, ageing and out of step with the Caroline court, was desperate to retain the prestigious and profitable post of Master of the Court of Wards; he hoped presenting this work to the King would demonstrate the continued sharpness of his mind and the value of his venerable advice. The Fragmenta Regalia failed in its immediate purpose - Charles I revoked Naunton's patent of office in March 1635 - but it was a rapid success with readers. Some 41 scribal copies are known, which is a remarkably large number for such a substantial text, and it was first printed in 1641. It has rarely been out of print since, and generations of readers have relished his observations of the leading courtiers and military figures of Elizabeth's reign, from Elizabeth's admonition to Leicester that "there shall be one mistress here and no master", to Naunton's characterisation of Raleigh as one whom "fortune, had pickte out of purpose ... to make an example; or to use as hir Tennis-ball".