Writings
of Sir Henry Sidney, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Robert Sidney, Robert
Sidney (the Second Earl of Leicester), Philip Sidney (Lord Viscount
Lisle) and Colonel Algernon Sidney, during the reigns of Mary I, Elizabeth I, James I, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell and the early part of Charles II
The letters and state papers of the Sidneys were not published until the middle of the 18th century. They give many fascinating insights into the period, such as intrigues at court and details of England's relationship with Ireland. They do not deal directly with the theme of this collection (martyrs and victims of persecution), but they form an indispensable part of the background to it. I have some material on Algernon Sidney, who was executed in 1683, here.
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Letters and Memorials of State, in the Reigns of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles the First, Part of the Reign of King Charles the Second, and Oliver's usurpation. Written and collected by Sir Henry Sydney, Knight of the Garter, Ambassador in France, four Times Lord-Justice of Ireland, and Thrice Lord-Deputy of that Realm, in the Reigns of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Lord-President of Wales, &c. The famous Sir Philip Sydney, and his brother Sir Robert Sydney, Lord-Governor of Flushing, and Lord-Chamberlain in the Reign of King James. Robert, the second Earl of Leicester, Ambassador to the Kings of Denmark and France, and Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in the Reign of King Charles the First. Philip, Lord Viscount Lisle, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, by Authority of Parliament, and one of the Council State of the Commonwealth; and of his brother Colonel Algernon Sydney, one of the said Council of State, and Ambassador to the Courts of Denmark and Sweden. Together with Letters of the other Ministers of State, with whom they held a Correspondence. The whole containing The Antient State of Ireland; with Characters and private Memoirs. Also, The Antient Government of the Prinicipality of Wales. The Wars between the Spaniards, and the States-General in the Netherlands. Negotiations between the Courts of England, France, &c. The Intriegues of the several Courts of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles the First. With other remarkable Transactions, both at Home and Abroad, during those Times, not hitherto known. Faithfully transcribed from the originals at Penshurst Place in Kent, the Seat of the Earls of Leicester, and from His Majesty's office of papers and records for business of state. Whereunto is added, Genealogical and Historical Observations: Also Memoirs of the Lives and Actions of the Sydneys, and their Noble Ancestors, the Dudleys, Grey, Talbot, Beauchamp, Berkeley, and Lisle; and a Defence of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester, wrote by Sir Philip Sydney. Collected from Records, their Last Wills and Testaments, Original Papers, Authentick Manuscripts, and our most approved Historians. By Arthur Collins, Esq; Author of the Peerage of England. (Vol. I. London: Printed for T. Osborne, in Gray's-Inn. 1746. Folio, pp. [10]+xii+180+viii+400.) A very good copy, in an early binding.
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Ibid. ( Vol. II, pp. xii+733+[1].)