THE "earliest known female autobiography in English" was written by a Skipton woman and is expected to fetch up to £80,000 when it goes under the hammer at Sotheby's.

The "great books" of Lady Anne Clifford, who was born in Skipton in 1590 and lived at Skipton Castle, are described as "arguably the most important 17th century manuscripts by a woman to be offered for sale at auction in living memory".

According to Sotheby's, Lady Anne's pursuit of her rights and her keen interest in her genealogy led her to commission a series of "Books of Record" or what she called her "Great Books".

Each set comprised three large volumes and three sets are known to survive. They comprise transcripts of charters, indentures, patent rolls, inquisitions, escheats, wills, petition and legal and land records from the 12th century onwards.

One of the books is distinguished because it has complete text of Lady Anne's "Memoriall" or autobiography, recounting the course of her life up to within four months of her death.

It states: "I must not forgett to acknowledge thatt in my infancie and Youthe, and a great part of my life I have escaped many Dangers both by fyre and Water By passage in Coaches and falles from Horses, By burneing fevors and excessive extremity of Bleedeinge, many times to the great Hazzard of my life, All of which and many Cunneinge and wicked Devices of my Enemyes I have escaped and passed thorow miraculously, and much the better by the helpe of the prayers of my Devout Mother."

Lady Anne was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. She was the daughter and sole heir of the naval commander George Clifford, third earl of Cumberland. She died in 1676.

According to Sotheby's: "Lady Anne periodically resided in each of her five castles in Yorkshire and Westmoreland - Skipton, Appleby, Brougham, Brough and Pendragon, and also Barden Tower. She extensively restored or rebuilt the castles and her passion for building also extended to various local churches and almshouses."

The auction of the manuscripts will take place on July 10.