Series PQN3. - Manuscript newsletters,

Manuscript London newsletters from John Gadbury and others, 1676-1710, addressed mainly to Sir Robert Owen, which strongly reflect the government, politics and society of the Stuart period. Recurrent topics are the relations between the Stuart monarchs and Parliament; proceedings of Parliament and government departments; English election results; events at the royal court; the establishment of Protestantism; antipathy towards Catholics and Protestant dissenters; political conspiracies; foreign affairs in Europe; British overseas trade and colonisation; local government in London; City gossip and Oxford University news. Items of specific interest include the murder of Sir Edmund Berry [Godfrey], 1679; rebellion of the Scottish Covenanters, 1679; the Titus Oates plot and its repercussions, 1679-1685; the trial of Lord Stafford, 1680; the Rye House Plot, 1683; the formation of a mounted bodyguard for Charles II, 1683; effects of Quo Warranto, 1683, and subsequent restoration of London and other corporation charters, 1688; the Austro-Turkish War, 1683-1691; the controversial electorship of Cologne, 1688; a protest by seven bishops against the Declaration of Indulgence, 1688; the abdication of James II and accession of William and Mary, 1688-1689; reviews of revenue and excise, 1688-1689; abolition of the Council of the Marches of Wales, 1688-1689; Jacobite rebellions in Ireland and Scotland, 1688-1691; War of the Grand Alliance, 1688-1697; the papal successsion, 1689; government of the Scottish Church, 1689; the suicide of Lord Teviot, 1694; the War of Spanish Succession, 1710; and activities of Dr Sacheverell, 1710.