A collection of documents relating to the Fairfax family, together with other miscellaneous material, compiled by Charles Fairfax and others

This material is held atUniversity of Leeds Special Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 206 Brotherton Collection MS Yks q 1
  • Dates of Creation
    • ca.1650-1710
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English Latin Italian
  • Physical Description
    • 1 vol. (33 ff.), folio and quarto manuscript. Written in several hands, including that of Charles Fairfax. The manuscript leaves are all mounted on folio sheets and are worn, torn, and dust-stained. Bound in modern morocco-backed boards, with a gilt-embossed spine lettered thus: CHARLES FAIRFAX.- MENSTON, YORKS. 1597-1673.

Scope and Content

Contains notes by Charles Fairfax relating to the Analecta Fairfaxiana, a Latin anagram on himself with his explanatory note referring to the tempest which his ship weathered in September 1652; also, other Latin verses, including a draft elegy on Dr Radcliffe, English verses on Lord Harrington, on the vanity of women, and other subjects, Latin prose about the tragedies of Sophocles, and a page of Italian verses.

Administrative / Biographical History

Charles Fairfax (1597-1673) was an antiquarian, genealogist and compiler of the Analecta Fairfaxiana. He was born at Denton in Yorkshire, but spent most of his life at Menston, on his wife's estate. In 1646, his brother Ferdinando, second Lord Fairfax, appointed him steward of the courts of Ripon and he later served as a colonel of foot in Monck's army. Following Monck's march into Yorkshire, Fairfax became governor of Kingston-upon-Hull, but after a year he retired to Menston to pursue his antiquarian and literary interests.

Access Information

Access is unrestricted.

Acquisition Information

Purchased at Sotheby's sale on 14 December 1993 (Lot 491).

Note

Mainly in English and Latin, but with some Italian.

Custodial History

Formerly in the Fairfax library, Leeds Castle, Kent.

Family Names