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Early modern life

A ‘declineing time’? The final illnesses of Constance and Elizabeth Lucy
A small brown volume with gold lettering being held by a hand mostly out of frame
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A ‘declineing time’? The final illnesses of Constance and Elizabeth Lucy

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Author
Emma Marshall

Folger Fellow Emma Marshall explores the history of the women of the Lucy family.

George Saunders in happier times
signature of George Saunders
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George Saunders in happier times

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Author
Heather Wolfe

The tale of George Saunders and his hopes for a wife.

A 17th Century Letter Collection, Part 3: Farming in Early Modern England, 1630-1632
A section of a handwritten letter
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A 17th Century Letter Collection, Part 3: Farming in Early Modern England, 1630-1632

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Author
William Davis

A final look at the Powell family letters.

A 17th Century Letter Collection, Part 2: Travelling Around Early Modern England, 1630-1632
Image of sealed letter with text transcribed above. A wax seal is visible at the top of the packet.
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A 17th Century Letter Collection, Part 2: Travelling Around Early Modern England, 1630-1632

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Author
William Davis

A continued look at the Powell family letters.

“To the right Wor[shipfu]ll and my very louinge freinde the Lady Powell …”: A 17th Century Letter Collection
hand written letter in english secretary hand; text as quoted above
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“To the right Wor[shipfu]ll and my very louinge freinde the Lady Powell …”: A 17th Century Letter Collection

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Author
William Davis

The first part of a series of posts examining the Powell family letters.

How Shakespeare Thought About the Mind, with Helen Hackett
Shakespeare Unlimited

How Shakespeare Thought About the Mind, with Helen Hackett

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The Elizabethan period marked an unusually rich moment for theories of consciousness and for the representation of thought in literature, says scholar Helen Hackett.

Stealing Signs
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Stealing Signs

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Author
Rachel B. Dankert

Thanks to everyone who shared their guesses on last week’s post and congratulations to those of you who guessed correctly! Sermo mirabilis: or the silent language by Charles de La Fin, London, 1693. Folger call number: L174 The mystery image…

My True Meaning: emotions in seventeenth-century wills
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My True Meaning: emotions in seventeenth-century wills

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Author
Elizabeth DeBold

Anyone who has read early modern wills, whether in an attempt to confirm the names of family members or out of interest in material history, knows that they are full of emotion. Dying men and women describe their family members…

Love-in-idleness, Part One: Adapting an early modern recipe for heartsease cordial
purple pansy floating in pink cocktail
Shakespeare and Beyond

Love-in-idleness, Part One: Adapting an early modern recipe for heartsease cordial

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Author
Marissa Nicosia

Marissa Nicosia adapts an early modern recipe for heartsease cordial. This purple pansy syrup was used to “clear the heart” – to treat the chest and lungs or to reduce fever – but also for healing heartaches.

Women Patrons as Playmakers
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Women Patrons as Playmakers

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Author
Elizabeth Zeman Kolkovich

A guest post by Elizabeth Kolkovich In the summer of 1602, Alice Egerton, Countess of Derby, did something rather extraordinary. When Queen Elizabeth I visited her house, she brought to the forefront the female patrons who usually remained behind the…

Glimpses of women athletes in 18th-century England
Shakespeare and Beyond

Glimpses of women athletes in 18th-century England

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Author
Peter Radford

A Folger fellow and former Olympian shares images and stories of 18th-century women athletes in England who competed in races, fights, cricket matches, and more.

Eating plants in the early modern world
Shakespeare and Beyond

Eating plants in the early modern world

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Author
Julia Fine

Explore turmeric, cinnamon, mint, and sugar to learn more about plants as food, and what they reveal about the early modern age and today.

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