Contemporaries of Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1605-1675

The Papers of Bulstrode Whitelocke, brought together from various sources, form an important archive - quite separate from his Diary - and much of it unpublished or even unknown to scholars. Ruth Spalding has selected about 1000 names from the Diary, assembled biographical details that elucidate the Diary references, and has worked into this framework much new material from Whitelocke's papers. Many entries shed light on the politics of the period, since Whitelocke knew nearly all the leading characters personally. There is also much information on the `unhonoured dead' - secretaries, servants, tenants, villagers, and petty officials. The volume complements Miss Spalding's edition of The Diary of Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1605-1675 (RSEH New Series XIII)