Elizabeth I of England Queen



Elizabeth I’s Reign Early Manuscript 


“The Condicon of this obligation is first that whereas abovebound Edmund Goodheir…”


1p ADS on vellum signed by two individuals at bottom. Written in Ovenden, England on June 10, 1597. The document features four lines in Latin at top, possibly a gloss, followed by 35 lines in English comprising the bulk of the document. Beautifully inscribed early modern calligraphy in three sizes of script. Signed at bottom left by Robert Doughtie and an unknown signee at right. Two vellum ribbons dangle from the bottom. Docketed verso: “[1596]. 10th June 39. Eliz. / Edmund Goodheir to Robert Doughty / Bond for Performance of Covenants / Ovenden.” With expected overall wear including deep folds, else very good to near fine. 20” x 14” overall including ribbons.  

This contract was signed in the spring of 1597, or, as the court scribes recorded it, in the 39th year of Elizabeth I’s reign (she had ascended the throne in 1558.) This was during the so-called “second reign” of Elizabeth I, when the aging queen faced growing unpopularity that prompted her to rely on propaganda and espionage. High taxes, several wars, and a series of poor harvests beleaguered the common people. Elizabeth’s government was increasingly dysfunctional. The Queen granted monopolies and privileges to irresponsible court favorites, like the Earl of Essex, and there was bitter in-fighting among her Privy Councilors. Despite the social, economic, and political hardships, English literature and theater flourished, led by the likes of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.  

The subjects of our document, Edmund Goodheir and Robert Doughtie, hailed from the northern-central region of Yorkshire, England. Ovenden is located close to Halifax, which in turn is approximately 20 miles southwest of Leeds and 40 miles southwest of York. Elizabeth I’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth of York, came from this region.  

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, an exhaustive encyclopedia compiled by editors Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, and Peter McClure, identifies the surname Goodheir (alternately spelled as Gooder, Goodere, Gooders, Gooda, and Goodeare) as historically present in West Riding, Yorkshire. The editors cite a reference from the International Genealogical Index that suggests Goodheirs had lived in Yorkshire from as early as the 1550s; one Thome Goodheir lived in Elland, Yorkshire in 1559 (p. 1088). This could be a relative of our Edmund Goodheir. Likewise, the Doughtie family (alternately spelled as Doughty, Douty, Dowty, Daughty, Defty, Dufty, Doty, Duty, etc.) lived in the same area; an Edward Doughty lived in Halifax, Yorkshire in 1569 (p. 755).  

Further research on the individuals and places mentioned in this document should yield fascinating discoveries!  

A handsome document, dating from the waning reign of the Virgin Queen!



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