The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Michael Idle ( - 1697)

Probably the same "Alderman Idle" identified as his uncle in Musaeum Thoresbyanum (479-80). He was Mayor of Leeds in 1590 (Lancaster, 6, f.n. 4). Thoresby refers to him often in his diary, sometimes as "Alderman," and often along with his "dearest aunt Lucy" (e.g. Diary, 1.178 in 1684). In 1697 he described the death of his uncle (his mother's brother) as "a great loss" to him, "he being a person of good natural parts and authority, (the only magistrate appointed a commissioner by act of parliament)," indicating that he looked to his uncle for personal support in times of difficulty (Diary, 1.316). Relevant locations: Lived at or near Leeds, Leeds Parish
Lived at or near Holbeck (Yorkshire)
Relationships: Lucy Idle (-fl. 1699) was a wife of Michael Idle
Ruth Thoresby (-1669) was a sister of Michael Idle
Linked print sources: as Mentioned or referenced by - Letters Addressed to Ralph Thoresby, F.R.S.: Printed from the Originals in the Possession of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society .
as Mentioned or referenced by - Musæum Thoresbyanum. A catalogue of the genuine and valuable collection of that well known antiquarian the late Ralph Thoresby, Gent. F. R.S. Author of Ducatus Leodiensis ... All which will be sold by auction, by Whiston Bristow, Sworn Broker, at the Exhibition Room, Spring Gardends, Charing Cross, On Monday March 5th, and the Two Following Days, beginning punctually at 12 o'Clock. To be viewed on Thursday March 1st, and the following Days, Sunday excepted. Catalogue to be had gratis at the Place of Sale, and of W. Bristow [Publisher of the Public Ledger] St. Paul's Church yard, who sells by Commission Estates, Medals, Books, Pictures, Curiosities, Stocks in Trade, and Household Furniture.
as Mentions or references - The Diary of Ralph Thoresby, F.R.S. author of the topography of Leeds. (1677-1724).
References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

An Indian Bonnet of very fine curious Workmanship; the Out-side consists of six Triangles, of Crimson and Black waved; the Interstices of Yellow, with Lines of Black and Crimson intermix'd; the Inside is of Straw-work, Red, Purple and Yellow waved after a different Manner. Don. Tho. Garway. English Caps; one of red Velvet with sixteen Rows of Silver Lace; another of Tissue Cloth of Silver; a third so lately used as my Grandfather Thoresby's Time, richly embroidered with Gold and Silver, thick set with Spangles; the peaked Lace clear Gold. A black square Cap worn by the foreign Literati. Don. S. Molineux Arm. An Indian Cap made of Rushes, partly of their Native Colour, and partly dyed Purple, very curiously woven with indented Rows, and a Tuft like the former. A Quoife very richly embroidered with Gold and black Silk. Don. Walt. Calverly Bart. Another of Judge Hutton's Lady. Don. Alb. Dodson Arm. A Cross cloth, or Brow-bit, of the like curious Needle-work, the Flowers of various Colours well shaded and richly embroidered; it was my Aunt Idle's Mo ther's, and given me by the said pious Relict of Alderman Idle; others of Lace, and different Sorts of Needle-Work. Widows Peaks. Commode-wires of various Forms and Heights.

A Catalogue of the Naturall and Artificial Curiositys in my slender Musaeum at Leedes Ano. 1708 Judge Huttons Ladys cross-cloth or brow-bit, curious needle work wrough in silk of great variety of colours ... Alderm Idles relict