DIGGES, Sir Dudly. The Compleat Ambassador or Two Treaties of the Intended Marriage of Qu: Elizabeth. (1655 - FIRST EDITION)

AUTHOR: DIGGES, Sir Dudly. 

TITLE: The Compleat Ambassador or Two Treaties of the Intended Marriage of Qu: Elizabeth of Glorious Memory; Comprised in Letters of Negotiation of Sir Francis Walsingham, her Resident in France. Together with the Answers of the Lord Burleigh.

PUBLISHER: London: by Tho: Newcomb for Gabriel Bedell & Thomas Collins, 1655.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol, (iv)441pp.(vii), small folio, with the engraved frontis by Faythorne of Burleigh, Elizabeth and Walsingham, title-page printed in red and black. Bound in contemporary speckled calf over cords, neatly rebacked retaining the original spine, somewhat recent gilt lettered brown leather spine label, contemporary ownership signature to front blank endleaf of Thomas Foley dated 1660, with his engraved bookplate to the verso of the title page.

CONDITION: Hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, text clean and bright throughout, back corners rubbed with minor loss, pastedowns and endpapers replaced at some earlier date, overall a VERY GOOD sound copy.

ADITIONAL INFORMATION: Queen Elizabeth I is shown here between two of her closest advisors: Lord High Treasurer Lord Burghley on the left, and Secretary of State Sir Francis Walsingham on the right. Queen Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 and ruled until 1603. Her reign saw a sharp increase in the exploration of foreign lands. It was Burghley who openly questioned the Spanish and Portuguese claims to South America, advising the Queen on securing a foothold in America as well.

REFERENCE: ESTC R22010; Wing D1453.