Book trade references in the Lapthorne-Coffin correspondence 1683-1697
edited by Michael Treadwell and Ian Maxted.
Letters, 1691
[Sat., 3 January 1691]
Sr
I recd yors last night for wch I returne thanks As for the things you write for seeds & books they shall bee bought & sent & you give yor possitive Comands I will also doe yt about ye Deputacon. The King is hastening...[16 lines in printed version]
[Fri., 9 January 1691]
Sr
I intend to send the books & seeds ye next Satturday by the carier. I have had one dangerously ill in my house for some tyme yt is now on a recovery tho very aged I make no doubt but you heare of the plott discovered agt ye present Government the 3 men...[11 lines in printed version]...
[Sat., 17 January 1691]
Sr
I have this day sent by the Exeter carier ye books & seeds in a white box directed to you as usually - Mr Chiswell [CHI] had never an one of ye Fariculus[?] rerum, [G55] but of ye large paper for wch he demanded 3li & sayd the other were worth 40s but I gote them for 28s also Mr Watts [WAT] would not sell Con of Ireland Cox of Ireland [C52] under 20s but I bought of another for 16s 6d. This day was tryed...[20 lines in printed version]...and taken. In my next you shall have my bill, ye Tryall ended...
[Volume B starts here]
[Tues., 20 January 1691]
Sr
The inclosed letter was written according to my usuall way last satturday: & was intended to bee delivered to our penny postman to be sent to ye generall post but hee coming as my mayd tells mee at his hower it was not then sent, hee usually passes through the street three tymes in ye night wth his Bell & 10 of ye clock is ye last coming, wch she sayth hee now failed = Capt. Ashton...[4 lines in printed version]...
...Underneath is your bill I am Sr
20 January 1690[1] your faithfull servant
| For a yeares Gazets | 0 8 0 |
| Fariculus rerum &c. [G55] | 1 8 0 |
| Cox of Ireland [C52] | 0 16 6 |
| Treatise of bonds [A05] | 0 3 0 |
| Seeds | 0 4 0 |
| 3 pamphlets formerly sent | 0 0 3 |
| 5 Sessions papers one double, all [L58] | 0 0 6 |
| Kings speech now [W50] | 0 0 1 |
| penny post letters - 10 | 0 0 10 |
| Box | 0 0 10 |
| Cord | 0 0 1 |
| To a porter to fetch 2 books from pauls church | 0 0 8 |
| yard & after carrying box to Carryer | --------- |
| 3 2 9 |
[Sat., 24 January 1691]
I hope by that time these come to your hands you will receive the box mentioned in my last sent by Morris the Exeter carier last Satturday .Wee doe not heare.[from printed version]...[27 lines in printed version]...Our last sessions paper [L58] came out since the box went off and therefore have sent it inclosed...
[Sat., 31 January 1691]
Sr
I hope your box came safe...[18 lines in printed version]...
[Sat., 7 February 1691]
Sr
I recd yours yisterday wth ye bill of Exchange & an inclosed letter for Mr Franklyn, wch letter I have delvered & I returne thanks for your remembrance of mee in ye bill of Exchange. I am now going to Mr Gouge Mr Hams[?] his fatherinlaw is dead If you send up ye Deputacon I shall readyly follow your direccons as to its new sealing. Our News Letters...[5 lines in printed version]...The proclamation against the Bishop of Ely, Col. Graham and William Penn [W36] is not yet out but dayly expected.[from printed version]...[8 lines in printed version]...Since the writing the proclamation against the 3 persons is come out.[from printed version]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 14 February 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 21 February 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 28 February 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 7 March 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat. 14 March 1691]
[Sun. 22 March 1691]
...[more on Palmer, Northmore, and the money]...[9 lines in printed version]...
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 28 March 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 4 April 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 11 April 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 18 April 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 25 April 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 2 May 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 9 May 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 16 May 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 23 May 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sun., 31 May 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 6 June 1691]
[Sat., 13 June 1691]
I should have written you in my last there is a fol. book put out lately by Dr Gale Schoolmaster of St Pauls conteyning a discourse of our British History out of ye manuscripts of the British Historians [G10] but I have forgotten ye title of the book - but as I remember ye price is 20s., also I am informed Spelmans Councells [S46] both parts are printing in one volum, the 2nd part is very scarce & of a prodigious price by reason it was burnt in the fire of London, & I remember you have severall times written for it - but I have forgotton whether sent...[8 lines in printed version]...
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sun., 21 June 1691]
[Sun., 28 June 1691]
[stuff on letter passed on to Mr Hopper and more on Palmer and Northmore]...In my next I will give you an accompt of wt you write about ye 2 books, The business is tryed...[19 lines in printed version]...
[Sat., 4 July 1691]
I have advised about the worth of Dr. Gales booke [G10] & am informed by a man of great Judgment in learning yt it is a valuable book &c. As for the second pt of Spelmans Councells, [S46] it is to no purpose to inquire for it till the Impression they are now about is Extant, for but few know yt it is in hand & therefore they yt have ye former abate nothing of yt excessive price. The Queene... [24 lines in printed version]...
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 11 July 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 18 July 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 25 July 1691]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 1 August 1691]
[Sat., 8 August 1691]
I have bin most part of this weeke at Windsor having a son at Eaton schoole. I came home last night.[from printed version]... [25 lines in printed version]...
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 15 August 1691]
[Sat., 22 August 1691]
...[17 lines in printed version]...from the enimy. I have togeather wth yr Gazetts inclosed sent you a paper I suppose worth your reading, I am Sr...
[Sat., 29 August 1691]
...[12 lines in printed version]...doe Justice &c. this is in our News Letters, but whether true you best know yt were then at Exeter There is no news of any great moment I intend god willing on Thursday next [3 Sept 91] to goe into Kent for 3 weeks & yt so soone as I returne you shall receive Letters from mee as usuall & ye remayning Gazetts shall then bee sent by the Carryer I am Sr...
NO SIGN OF ANY LETTER DATED Sat., 5 September 1691
[Sat., 12 September 1691]
Sr
In my last I wrote of my intended Journey for 3 weeks I went so far as Rochester but falling sick I went no further but returned to my own house where I am now pretty well thanks bee to god, & I think I shall scarce goe out of town againe till another sumer I so shall continew every Satturday as formerly I finde yt in my last letter I did not send yt weeks Gazett wch I suppose might be occaconed by sending another paper but I have them by mee & will send them some other way 4 wilbe too many to send in this Letter Wee heare...[14 lines in printed version]...
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 19 September 1691]
[Sat., 26 September 1691]
Sr
I recd yours yisterday for wch I returne thanks Spelmans Councells [S46] are not yet come out The price of the other booke [G10] is 16s Wee have...[3 lines in printed version]...[in haste, just going to a funeral]
NOTHING OF ANY INTEREST IN LETTER OF [Sat., 3 October 1691]
[Sun., 11 October 1691]
Sr
I recd yors yisterday & shall take care to buy & send you the two books [G10] & wt yu formerly wrote for, Wee have had...[10 lines in printed version]...
[Sat., 17 October 1691]
...[8 lines in printed version]...of the Comon pleas I hope yu have recd the Catalogue Catalogue [L12] sent by Torrington Carrier this day sevenight, [10 Oct 1691] Its sayd that...[7 lines in printed version]
[note on bottom in Coffin's hand] The Gazets sent in this letter were fro Aug 31 to 7ber 3 1691 th'other fro 8ber-12 to 8ber 15 - 1691 soe that there are yet 4 Gazets wanting viz 3 fro ye 20 of Aug: to ye 30 of Aug 91 and one fro 8ber 8th to 8ber-12-91
[Sat., 24 October 1691]
...[13 lines in printed version]...of an Impeachment. Dr Gale told mee himself this morning that there is a 2d volum of his booke of ye Brittish Historians [G10] lately printed I am Sr
[Sat., 31 October 1691]
Sr
I delivered the Catalogue [L12] wth my own hands to the Torrington Carryer & hee put it up in his pocket in the Court at the signe of the Bull & Mouth hee is a surly fellow & refused to take it wthout paying for it, I told him I had sent many things & never any demand of present paymt till then, & you know Sr yts ye ready way to have it miscarry, so at length hee put it into his pocket & sayd hee would carry its made up in a Roll covered wth Brown paper I hope you have it by this time However I have sent you a sheet of ye misscellanies I wish you would write to some one in the towne & let them demand ye Roll & give an accompt of these circumstances & I am confident ye fellow canot deny it, as I take it I once said sent a Catalogue some yeares since & it had ye same chance, Wee have at present...[unknown amount and then 3 lines in printed version]
[Sat., 7 November 1691]
Sr
I am glad ye Catalogue [L12] is come to yor hands & such care shalbe taken for buying these books marked & all else you shall write for yt I am confident you wilbe very well pleased in ye purchassing of them Here was wonderfull rejoycing...[17 lines in printed version]
[Sat., 14 November 1691]
Sr
The most part of yor bookes are bought but the writer this evening having given mee a note of the prices & I now looking over it I am apt to think yt hee hath made some mistakes & its now almost 11 of the clock at night & therefore I omitt sending the prices till another post, Wee have very litle...[3 lines in printed version...by an accedent I am so taken up about this Auction at present yt I can have litle conversation abroad - in my next I hope to write you a more intelligible Letter & therefore begg you will excuse ye hast of...
[Tue., 17 November 1691]
Sr
I have just now compared ye Auction booke wth yor Instructns & finde these books are bought for you at the prices following Theol fol N.46 [F40] - 0.5.4 N.61 [C14] - 0 6 4: N.111 [M60] - 0 7.2 Id.4° N.27 [M75] = 0 2.6. N.44. [D40] 0.1.6. N.192 [P36] -0-4:1. 12° N.32 [L27] - 0-3.0 N.36. [P40] [= 56: H65] 0 0 10 N.76 [A15] 0 0 6[?] Jurid 4° 19 [Z30] 0 2 0 N.21 [Z20] 0 1 0 Miss.fo N.32. [L18] 0 8 0 N.33 [U10] 0 17.6 N.36 [S34] 0 17 4 Wee are now selling the miss.4°, Sr Cloudsly Shovell is upon recovery and the late Lord Mayor likewise who were both desperatly sick. the Author of the Observator [O10] hath bin under some trouble for a slip of his pen the which the House of Comons had noted. There is one of our men of Warr supposed to bee taken by the French, viz: the Adventure.
[Sat., 21 November 1691]
Sr
I have just now lookt [sic] the booke & finde these books bought
Misc 4 -- N:178 [M65] - 0 2 0 - N.198 [B68] - 0 2.8 - N.242 [error, not acquired V35] [i.e. 241 M35] - 0 2 0 Oct N.84 [S12] - 0 2 4 N.85 [C54] - 0 2 6 N.146 [L48] 0 1.4, (12°) N.2 [P06] 0 0 10 N.5 [P68] 0 0 10 N.91 [S16] 0-1 0 N.93. [H60] 0 3 5 N.101, [W14] 0 1 0: N.108 [W16] 0-1:9 And I know not certainly whether more are not bought but if any errors in ye buying of these before I send them or a bill ye Books shalbe exactly compared There being two writers & I hope accomt given wch shall comply with yor liking. The Parliamt have made an Addresse...[14 lines in printed version]...and are to be tryed the next weeke. Wee are gon over ye 2d page of ye Medici 4°: & proceed to ye remaynder Munday night I am Sr
[Sat., 28 November 1691]
Sr
I recd yors yisterday wth direccons foe English bookes wch are marked accordingly & I hope wilbe bought to yor content the English begin Munday next & I think wee shall end yt weeke & then I will give you a certaine & perfect account of what is bought
One day this weeke...[16 lines in printed version]...
[Tue., 1 December 1691]
Sr
We are now come to our divinity octavo in the Catalogue, most of yr bookes yt come tymely to my hands are bought for you of wch you shall have the perticulars after the Auction is over according to my promiss in my last The reason of my writing to you by this post is to begg a favour of you on the behalf of a neer freind & relation my wives brother, there being a proposicon made to him for lending a sum of mony to redeeme a mortgage made on these lands to Sr John Roll, & our request to you is yt if you are acquainted with ye person & his estate yt you you [sic] would give us[?] your Judgmt & thoughts in this matter...the inclosed note is to bee yor Guide I am
[PS] I should have pd for ye postage of ye letter, but I must thinke of some way to make amends for it
[Sat., 5 December 1691]
Sr
I did in hast send you by Tuesdays post a request on the behalfe of a neer freind I shall not enlarge on yt this time I am tyred out wth attending every night at the Auction by reason of our ending at unseasonable hours, Wednesday next wee sell ye Comon law & that night god willing to conclude ye Sale Sr Tho: Fowles...[7 lines in the printed version]...12 months In my next I shall give I hope an account of what books were bought for you this Auction I am Sr...
[PS] Quere if you know any [re mortgage]
[Sat., 12 December 1691]
Sr
Our Auction is now over, but wee are in such a hurry in making bills & delivering of books yt I must beg your patience in deferring your account till next week There is one Mr Fuller... [11 lines in printed version]...
[Sat., 19 December 1691]
[starts with thanks for info re mortgage, but no detail]...But Sr I have just now yor Bill before mee to send inclosed in these as to ye perticulars of ye books bought in the Auction (it being about 10 at night & finde in the beginning some mistakes wch I long since tooke notice of in ye very begining (viz) some books charged to you wch were to bee set to another & yt must bee rectifyed & it comes from ye writer, & its too late now to doe it, but shalbe sent on Tuesday & I blush to think yt I should bee so unready wn you have bin so forward in yor returns to mee, It will bee necessary you should have ye perticulars before I send yor books or else I had sent them by this returne of ye Carryer
Mr Baxter is dead...[15 lines in printed version]
[Tues., 22 December 1691]
Sr
According to my promiss I have inclosed sent you your account of ye bookes bought& so soone as I receive yors yt this account agrees with your direccons (unless comanded by you to the contrary) I intend fourthwth to send them to you It is sayd yt Generall...[12 lines in printed version]...I wish you a merry Christmas...
[Undated bill in the form of a long strip, tipped in on same page as letter of Sat., 30 January 1692, probably the one referred to in the letter of 22 December 1691 and located and indexed as such]
| To Mr: Coffin | Med in 4° | |
| Lib: Theol fol. | 10 [H55] _____________2 :10 | |
| 46 [F40] ____________5 : 0 | Id in 8° | |
| 6:4 | 61 [C14] ____________6 : 4 | 5 [L30] ______________1 : 0 |
| 111 [M60] ___________7 : 2 | 15 [B56] _____________0 : 6 | |
| 52 [L60] _____________1 : 4 | ||
| Id in 4° | 225 [B46] ____________0 : 8 | |
| 27 [M75] ____________2 : 6 | Id in 12° | |
| 44 [D40] ____________1 : 6 | 33 [S68] _____________0 : 6 | |
| 192 [P36]___________4 : 1 | 67 [B06] _____________1 : 0 | |
| 77 [S48] _____________0 : 6 | ||
| Id in 8° | 84 [F60] _____________0 : 8 | |
| 61 [L64] ____________1 : 0 | 120 [F30] ____________1 : 0 | |
| 124 [S48] ____________0 : 6 | ||
| Id in 12° | Eng:Divin fols | |
| 2:9 | 32 [L27] _________________3 : 0 | 82 [T90] _________________7 : 6 |
| 56 [H65] _________________0 :10 | Id in 4° | |
| 76 [A15] _________________0 : 6 | 166 [P54] _________________1 : 6 | |
| Id in 8° | ||
| Jurid: 4° | 103 [C50] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 19 [Z30] _________________2 : 0 | 143 [W70] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 21 [Z20] _________________1 : 0 | Id in 12° | |
| 6 [D70] _________________0 : 6 | ||
| Mis: fol | 54 [W22] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 32 [L18] _________________8 : 0 | 62 [W26] _________________1 : 1 | |
| 33 [U10] ________________17 : 6 | Eng:mis:fol: | |
| 36 [S34] ________________17 : 4 | 7 [S06] _________________4 : 6 | |
| 17 [B78] _________________5 : 2 | ||
| Id in 4° | Id in 4° | |
| 178 [M65] _________________2 : 0 | 188 [D50] _________________2 : 4 | |
| 198 [B68] _________________2 : 8 | Id in 8° | |
| 241 [M35] _________________3 : 2 | 93 [R30] _________________1 : 8 | |
| 242 [N20] _________________0 :10 | ||
| Id in 8° | Id in 12 ° | |
| 84 [S12] _________________2 : 4 | 143 [R20] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 85 [C54] _________________2 : 6 | 167 [R15] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 146 [L48] _________________1 : 4 | Law:4° | |
| 3 [P56] _________________1 : 2 | ||
| Id in 12° | 36 [C11] _________________1 : 0 | |
| 2 [P06] _________________0 :10 | Id in 8° | |
| 5 [P68] _________________0 :10 | 14 [D55] _________________2 : 0 | |
| 91 [S16] _________________1 : 0 | 16 [C42] _________________1 : 0 | |
| 93 [H60] _________________3 : 5 | 30 [W01] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 101 [W14]_________________1 : 0 | 37 [O30] _________________0 :10 | |
| 102 [W12] _________________0 : 6 | 104 [C32] _________________1 : 0 | |
| 103 [W18] _________________2 : 0 | 109 [B62] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 108 [W16] _________________1 :10 | 112 [B60] _________________1 : 0 | |
| ---------- | 127 [E30] _________________0 : 6 | |
| 5 3 : 2 | ---------- | |
| 2 . 8 : 4 | 2 : 8 : 7 | |
| Total 7 :11 : 6 |
[Sat., 26 December 1691]
Sr
Last Tuesday [22 Dec] I sent a note of ye books bought at the Auction & inclosed are ye Gazets wch have but litle News. Its sayd Sr Edward...[5 lines in printed version]...Mr Baxters funerall sermon preached by Dr Bates [B20] wthin a few dayes wilbe in prynt & I suppose worth yor having. I remember you had Mrs. Baxters preached by Mr How [H75] & therefore this is now offred by Sr..
[First letter of 1692]
This page last updated 10 Mar 2002
© Michael Treadwell, Ian Maxted, 2001.
