Item 1829/8 - Letter from Henry John Todd

1 item, paper. Fragments of red wax seal

Letter from Henry John Todd to William French, written from Lambeth Palace Library. Todd writes that he has long been collecting information to write a life of Thomas Cranmer, having conducted research at Lambeth Palace Library, the British Museum, the State Paper Office and the Chapter House at Westminster Abbey. He would like to have an engraving of Cranmer produced and would like to base it on the portrait of Cranmer in the College's art collection. He said he knows the painting has been copied for Thoroton's, Nottinghamshire, copied for Burnet's History of the Reformation and Strype's Cranmer but that all these were indifferent. Says that Messrs Rivington would send an artist of distinction to make the copy. He also says that he understands that a manuscript memoir of Cranmer survives in the College Library. Mentions Strype refers to it but would like to make a copy of it if possible. He says he planned to pose these questions in person on his ride home to Settrington, Scarborough, Yorkshire (where he is rector) the following week but that French's election as MP for the University prevented the intrusion by Todd (an 'Oxford man').