Introduction
Dorothy Calthorpe was unknown until a charming, autograph, amateurish manuscript of verse and prose writings by her, partly religious, partly fanciful, partly relating to members of her family, came to light at auction in 2006. Bearing dates from 1672 to 1684, and evidently written by a young lady, the volume was accompanied by her printed Bible (*CaD 8) with her inscription, in the same distinctive roman hand, dated 1686. Signing herself then ‘Dorothy Harvey’, this may have been her recently acquired married name. Alternatively, she may have inscribed it for her niece Dorothy Harvey. This, and details of her family history — possibly of the Calthorpe family of Ampton, Suffolk — remain open to investigation.
Peter Beal