Elizabethan estate-book. Manuscript estate-book of Thomas Cony of Bassingthorpe, Lincolnshire, c.1564-1608. 117 ff., 332 x 204 mm, watermarks of a coronet surmounting a fleur-de-lys (no countermarks), written in dark brown ink mainly in the same clear and fluent secretary hand, a few leaves left blank, many written on rectos only, later manuscript pagination, single manuscript leaf containing title and introduction evidently by Edmund Turnor (1754-1829) c.1790 (see note) tipped to initial blank (the blank containing 16th-century annotations verso; laid down onto front free endpaper with various pencilled annotations recto including 'The binding of this book is curious being a Venetian design. F Leveson Gower, May 1902', f. 1 with contemporary manuscript annotation at foot indicating that the book was sometime in the possession of one Thomas Butler (signed 'Ni.[or M] Roberts'), f. 116 with manuscript list of contents also by Turnor, marginal losses to ff. 4 and 115 not affecting text, related paper document (dated 1595, signed 'H Cholmley') tipped to f. 5 recto, vellum document dated 1607 tipped to f. 113 verso. Binding: contemporary calf, rebacked and relined in the 18th century (with gilt crest of the Turnor family to head and foot of spine and red morocco label 'Cony Household Book 1564' to second compartment), each cover with concentric frames in blind, arabesque lozenge gilt to centre with 'The Booke' and 'Of Estat' lettered in gilt above and below within single-fillet frames incorporating star tools gilt, pointillé floral cornerpieces gilt, front joint cracked but holding, covers scuffed, corners restored at an early date (probably contemporaneously with the rebacking), clasps and catches perished (qty: 1) A substantial historical document revealing the domestic and commercial transactions of a powerful member of the English merchant class which formed the backbone of the nation's prosperity during the Elizabethan golden age. The manuscript was first brought to public attention by the noted antiquary Edmond Turnor (1754-1829), who published a selection of passages and an introduction in the proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries in 1794 (Archaeologia, XI, pp. 22-33), and by direct descent from whom the manuscript is now offered for sale for the first time since the 17th century. 'The book, beginning in the year 1545 [sic], contains, principally, notes of the cattle belonging to ... Thomas Cony; inventories of his household-goods and plate at Bassingthorpe; his profits and losses in trade, etc. and the amount of his income and expences for fifty-four years ... He was the son of Richard Cony of Bassingthorpe, Esq. merchant of the Staple of Calais, who died in 1545, from whom he inherited a considerable property ... He was taken prisoner at Calais in 1558, when that town was surrendered to the Duke of Guise, and conveyed captive to Boulogne, where, after two months severe confinement, he was ransomed at the price of 374l ... In 1573 he was high sheriff of Rutland ... He much increased his estate, as appears by a rental of it in 1577 ... [His] line of trade, by which this great fortune was raised, was extremely lucrative. The merchants of the Staple had almost a monopoly of all wools exported; nor were the merchant adventurers [of whom Cony was also a member], who trade likewise in wools, a company less respectable' (Turnor, pp. 22-3). Provenance: 1) Sir Edmund Turnor (1619-1707) of Stoke Rochford, with his engraved bookplate and dated 1702 and a note by his descendant Edmund Turnor (1754-1829) in his manuscript introduction, reading: 'This book was amongst the writings relating to the Manor of North Stoke purchased of William Cony Esq. by Sir Edmund Turnor Knt 1671'). 2) Edmund Turnor (1754-1829) of Stoke Rochford, landowner and antiquary. 3) Thence by descent.