College, Maynooth, Very Reverend Laurence O'Renehan; and Dr. O'Renehan having bequeathed his MSS. to the College, and the Black Book being still in the collection, it remains with the consent of the present Bishop, Right Reverend Dr. Butler, in the custody of the College, but subject to the disposal of the Bishop.

A transcript of it was made for the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, under the direction of the late Reverend Dr. Todd, and two further copies have been since made, one for the Bishop of Limerick, and one for the library of Maynooth College.

Its contents differ but little from those of other diocesan or monastic cartularies, being partly ecclesiastical, but in great part relating to the temporal possessions of the see. They consist of papal documents, diocesan statutes, ordinances, disciplinary enactments, presentations to benefices, licenses, regulations for the chapter and for monastic bodies, intermixed with leases, contracts, inquisitions, quit-claims, covenants about mills, fisheries, right of water-courses, fairs, and markets, and the numberless similar details of the affairs of great mediæval seigneurs. These, it need hardly be said, are replete with instruction as to the antiquities not alone of the district, but of the entire Anglo-Irish community of the period. It would be out of place to enter here into any detail of these documents. I shall only mention one, which has been referred to already in more than one account of the Liber Niger.

It is an Inquisition taken in the year 1201, under an order of Meyler FitzHenry, Grand Justiciary, by William de Burgo, of all the property of the Bishop of Limerick. The particulars of the Inquisition do not call for any special notice; but it is remarkable in this respect, that it was held under a triple jury selected out of the three classes of the population then existing in Limerick, namely, twelve Englishmen, twelve Irishmen, and twelve Ostmen or Danes. The necessity of such an arrangement at this period is a noteworthy evidence of the strength and durability of the footing which the Northerners had obtained in the maritime towns of Ireland. That such had been their position in Waterford and the towns of the eastern coast had been sufficiently apparent; but it is more remarkable to find them occupying such a relation in a remote western port, such as Limerick.

In any selection from Irish cartularies for publication, the Black Book of Limerick ought to hold a prominent place. C. W. RUSSELL.

CHIEF BARON WILLES'S MEMORANDA ON IRELAND. Since the appearance of the notice of Chief Baron Willes's Notes on Ireland, published in the Appendix of last year's report, another MS. volume from the same pen has been put into my hands by Mr. Willes, with kind permission to bring it under the observation of the Historical Manuscripts Commission.

Like the two volumes of notes reported on last year, the present volume is autograph, and is entitled "Memoranda on Debates, &c., in the Irish Houses of "Parliament." It is a small 4to volume of about 150 pages, and contains the Chief Baron's account of the proceedings which took place in the Irish Parliament during his sojourn in Ireland, upon the chief questions of public interest at that period. Chief Baron Willes was not a member of either House of Parliament, nor does he profess to report even in the most summary way the parliamentary discussions, with which, indeed, he had no direct opportunity of becoming acquainted. But his position as a privy councillor brought him officially into connection in the Privy Council with all the important discussions of public policy which arose in Parliament. It is not necessary to observe that under the operation of Poynings' Act all heads of bills intended to be submitted to Parliament were first discussed in the Privy Council in order to be certified by the Lord Lieutenant in Council to the Privy Council of England, to be by them returned, with any required modification, for proposal and discussion in either house of the Irish Parliament. In this way all measures originating with the Irish Government necessarily came before the Privy Council in the first instance, and even measures which had been introduced in one of the two Houses were discussed in the Privy Council before passing to the other House.

The time of the Chief Baron's sojourn in Ireland was

a very critical one in the parliamentary history of that kingdom in the last century. It was during this time that the first stirrings of the agitation for legislative independence may be said to have begun in Ireland; and almost every question of public policy in turn was eagerly seized by the Irish national party as an occasion for presenting in some new form the principle of freedom from English control which it was their aim to establish. Of the secret history of this movement and the impulses by which it was created or urged on, but little is disclosed by contemporary writers, and I cannot help considering the Chief Baron's memoranda as a valuable accession to the existing materials.

These memoranda commence from the date of his arrival in 1757, and contain a very interesting account of the debate on the Pension List which occurred during the Duke of Bedford's government, and of the direct agitation for the repeal or modification of Poynings' Act, by which it was followed. A still more curious and less known chapter of Irish Parliamentary history is the Chief Baron's account of a bill introduced by Lord Clanbrassil for the registration of the Roman Catholic clergy, by which it was proposed to license one priest for each parochial district, provision being made for the perpetuation of the same license to the priest who should succeed on the demise of each incumbent. Lord Clanbrassil had introduced the measure unsuccessfully in the session of 1756; but it was carried by a small majority in the Lords in 1757, and was then brought for discussion to the Privy Council. The Chief Baron's account of the debate, as well as his reflections on the question generally, afford a curious insight into the condition of public opinion on Catholic claims at this period, even in the more moderate and liberal classes. The bill was rejected on the ground that, whereas all previous enactments for registration of Popish clergy had aimed at the extinction of the clerical body at the expiration of the term of the existing registration, Lord Clanbrassil's proposal, even by the moderate measure of toleration which it doled out in providing for a succession, was in effect an establishment of Popery in Ireland. On this ground even the Chief Baron himself, although with an evident unconsciousness of any want of enlightened liberality in so doing, argued against the bill.

It was rejected by a large majority of the Council. But the very discussion of it at this time is in itself a noticeable circumstance; and it is creditable to the proposal of Lord Clanbrassil that this bill appears to have been but one of a series of kindred measures which he had projected, among which was a scheme for the recognition of episcopal government in the Catholic church, and a still more remarkable one for the establishment of a seminary for the education of the priesthood at home-a curious anticipation, in truth, by nearly half a century, of Mr. Pitt's policy in the foundation of Maynooth College.

In the same volume with these memoranda of the debates is bound up a most interesting letter (evidently to Lord Warwick), dated 15th December 1760, giving an account from day to day of the progress of the contest as to the right of originating money bills, which culminated in the declaration of independence. The struggle began on occasion of the dissolution of Parliament at the death of George II., and the subsequent general election. The sympathies of the Chief Baron, as an Englishman, were naturally with the Royal prerogative, but his narrative is most instructive, and appears to be thoroughly fearless and impartial.

Equally graphic are his account of the mingled alarm and excitement caused throughout Ireland by the news of the landing of the French at Carrickfergus; and his summary of the discussions in the Privy Council on a proposed alteration of the law as to municipal elections in Dublin, giving' new and more direct powers to the burgesses in the election of wardens.

It is to be regretted that he did not continue these interesting memoranda to the end of his residence in Dublin; but the period which they cover may be said to have opened up in a greater or less degree the principles of nearly all the discussions which, for the rest of the century, were destined to keep alive in Ireland that spirit of agitation which only subsided in the total prostration consequent on the unhappy crisis of the rebellion of 1798.

C. W. RUSSELL.

HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS COMMISSION.

Rolls House, Chancery Lane.

Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint under Her Sign Manual certain Commissioners to ascertain what MSS. calculated to throw light upon subjects connected with the Civil, Ecclesiastical, Literary, or Scientific history of this country are extant in the collections of private persons and in corporate and other institutions. A copy of the Commission is enclosed, which will best explain the object Her Majesty has in view.

The Commissioners think it probable that you may feel an interest in this object, and be willing to assist in the attainment of it, and with that view they desire me to lay before you an outline of the course which they propose to follow.

If any person express his willingness to submit any paper or collection of papers within his possession or power to the examination of the Commissioners, they will cause an inspection to be made by some competent person, upon the information derived from whom the Commissioners will make a private report to the owner on the general nature of the papers in his collection, such report will not be made public without the owner's consent, but a copy of it will be deposited and preserved in the Public Record Office, to which no person will be allowed to have access without the consent of the owner of the papers reported on.

Where the papers are not mere insulated documents, but form a collection which appears to be of Literary or Historical value, a chronological list or brief calendar will be drawn up, and a copy thereof presented to the owner, and to no other person without his consent, but the original of such calendar will be deposited for preservation in the Public Record Office, to which no person will be allowed to have access without the consent of the owner of such collection.

OF I

The Commissioners will also, if so requested, give Ct their advice as to the best means of repairing and preserving any papers or MSS. which may be in a state of decay, and are of Historical or Literary value.

To avoid any possible apprehension that the examination of papers by the Commissioners may extend to or include any title deeds or legal documents, I have to call your attention to the fact that nothing of a private character or relating to the titles of existing owners is to be divulged, and to assure you that positive instructions will be given to every person who examines the MSS. that if in the course of his examination any title deeds or other documents of a private character chance to come before him, they are to be instantly put aside, and are not to be reported on or calendared under any pretence whatever.

The object of the Commission is solely the discovery of unknown Historical and Literary materials, and in all their proceedings the Commissioners will direct their attention to that object exclusively.

In no instance will any MS. be removed from the owner's residence without his request or consent, but if for convenience the Commissioners be intrusted with any MSS., they will be deposited in the Public Record Office, and be treated with the same care as if they formed part of the Public Muniments, and will be returned to the owner at any time specified by him.

The costs of inspections, reports, and calendars, and the conveyance of documents will be defrayed at the public expense without any charge to owners.

The Commissioners will feel much obliged if you will communicate to them the names of any gentlemen who may be able and willing to assist in obtaining the objects for which this Commission has been issued. I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, JOHN ROMILLY,

Secretary.

Com

2.0

Admiralty-cont.

jurisdiction of the, in Ireland, letter about the, 1638; 76.
suggestions touching the; 79.

a paper concerning the; 199.

a Latin treatise," De officio Admirallitatis Angliæ,” temp.
Eliz.; 108.

notes taken oute of the Statute Lawe concerning the
Admiraltye; ib.

papers connected with the, 18th cent.; 125, 146.
Lords of the, instructions by the, 1636; 71, 74.

letters of the, 1636-7; 72, 74.

Commissioners of the, letter to the, 1653; 266.
Lords of the, letters to the, 1757-60; 146.
Court, the; 13.

matters, disputes touching, between England and France,
1640; 83.

Office, return by the, of ships lost and damaged, 1691; 101.
letter dated at the, 1715; 369.

Adventurers, in a ship called the Pearl, petition of; 286.
See Merchants Adventurers.

Alabaster, Sir Thomas, letters from; 161, 162, 164.

Alacampi, Edward, letters of; 334.

Albani, Vita Sancti, 14th cent., in the Marquis of Bute's collec-
tion; 205.

Albani, Cardinal, letter of; 138.
Albany:

Duke of, protest against the legality of a court and assize
held by the, 1400; 422.

Governor of Scotland, license by the, 1416; xxiv, 413.
Earl of March, &c., Alexander, letters of procuratory
by, 1470; 389.

charter of, 1479; 4.

Dukes of, charters, &c. by; 397, 398, 402, 404, 405.
Duchess of, and Countess of Lennox, Isabella, charter by,
1445; xxiii, 407.

Albemarle :

Duke of, letter of the, 1660; 90: 1662; 248.

letters touching the, 1685; 97, 99. See Monck.
Lord, letters of, in the Ormonde collection; 428.
Earl of, letters of the, 1699; 193.

- Ambassador at Paris, despatches from and to the,
1754; 141, 142.

correspondence of the, 1763-8; 222.

letter of the, 1763; xxiii, 407.

Alberoni, Cardinal, compendium of the Life of; 242.
Albert, Archduke, letters from, 1603; 149.
letters to; 151. See Archduke.

Alchemy:

books on; 122.

a treatise on, by John Garland; ib.

treatises on; 123, 272.

transcripts of; 186.

treatise on, by John Bubelem, 1384; 186, 244.

Alchorne, Thomas, letters of; 277.

Alehouses:

account of the receiver of profits on licenses for keeping,
1618; 1.

letters patent appointing Commissioners of, 1618; 15.
a book of licenses granted for the keeping of, 1617-20; 17.
proclamation repealing the patent touching, 1621; 21.
notes concerning, temp. Jac. I.; 285.

Ale tasters, presentments of; 342.

Ales and revels, papers relative to, 1633; 286.

Alexander the Great, Latin history of; 186.
Alexander, Jerome, letters of; 428.

Algerine pirates; 282.

Ambassadors-cont.

France; Portugal; Prussia; Russia; Spain; Sweden; &c.
Amboyna business, answer of the States General to the report of
their commissioners about the; 190.

Ambrose, St., his treatise on the Epistles, 12th cent.; 242.
Amelia, Princess :

letters to and from, 1748; 222.

correspondence of, 1763-8; 223.

America; 126.

draft of an Act touching fishing voyages to the sea-coasts
of, 1621; 21.

trade of, 1735-67; 144.

supplies to the British forces in, &c., 1748–89; 146.
North, differences between England and France with re-
spect to their colonists in, 1754; 141, 142.

convention of neutrality between the Empress Queen and
France respecting the differences between England and
France in, 1756, (copy); 132.

memorial on the differences between the French and
English in, 1756; 134.

letter from the War Office to Lord Rollo in, 1762; 407.
letter on the state of affairs in, 1765; 130.
South, affairs of the Jesuits in, 1766; 136.
resolutions of the Committees of both Houses of Parliament
on the compensation to be given by the colonists to the
sufferers in the late riots there, 1766; 145.

letter of Frederick, King of Prussia, on the folly of the
English measures towards, 1768; 140.

civil and military affairs in, during the war, 1776-81;
xxvi, 430.

Amherst, Sir Jeffery; 407.

Amory, Thomas, letters of; 428.

Ampthill (Bedf.), draught plan of; 164.

Amsterdam, letters from the British envoy at, 1717; 219.
Amyand, Claudius, letter to; 141.

Amyce, Thomas, letters of; 229.

Anabaptist Conventicles, an information against frequenters of,
1718; 319.

E., letter of; 300.

Major, letters to; 190.

Anecdotes of historical characters; xi.
Anees, William, letters from; 174, 175.

Angel, the ship, papers relating to; 248, 249.
Angier:

F., letter to; 156. See Aungier.
George, letters of; 334.

Angiers, a murder at, 1719; 273.

Anglesea, Justices of, letter from the; 169.
Anglesey, Earl of:

letter from the [t. Jac. I.]; 180.
discourse by the, 1671; 184.

letter to the, 1675; 199.

letter of, requesting attendance on her journey to London,
1603; 423.

letters from and to; 151, 155, 160, 161, 167, 177, 178, 179,
185, 202, 264.

letter from her tradesmen, 152; from the Commissioners
of her Revenue, 155; from her tenants, 172.

draft of an Act of confirmation of a grant to, 1610; 12.
petition to, for an Order of Knights Adventurers; 178.
petition to, of "the six rockers of the late Ladie Marie's
grace;" ib.

petition of the grooms of the Queen's Stables to Cecil, ib.
papers and poems on the death of; 298.

lines by King James on the death of; xviii, 299.
Anne:

Lady (afterwards Queen), letter respecting, 1678; 423.
William of Orange comes to court her, 1680; 269.
account of the Prince of Denmark's suit for the hand
of, 1683; 289.

order for payment of the King's gift to George and
Anne, Prince and Princess of Denmark, 1685; 267.
letter from, to William III.; 195.

Queen, coronation of; order for a gown of scarlet for the
Strewer of Herbs to Her Majesty; 267.

"truly zealous for the Church of England," 1702; 273.
letter touching her relations with her ministers, 1710;
270.

letter from Lord Oxford to, with an account of public
affairs from 1670 to 1714; 145.

instructions by, to an ambassador, 1711; 252.
letters of; xxi, 198, 218, 252, 288, 368, 420, 421.
Annesley, Cordell, letter from; 151.
Annuities:

Court, original book of, 12 Eliz.; 230.

and fees, 1605-12; 164.

a paper relating to, 1745-6; 146.

Anson, Lord, despatches from and to, 1758; 142.

Anstey, West (Devon), land in; 358.

Arabella, Lady. See Stuart, Lady Arabella.

Arabic proverbs; 244.

Arabic words, vocabulary of; 123.

Arable land, draft of an Act against the conversion of, into

pasture; 29.

Arbroath, abbey of, warrants by Mary Q. of Scots and James VI.
respecting the; 394.

Arbuthnot, letters of; xiv, 198.

Lord, MSS. of, to be inspected, x.
Archbishops and Bishops, a treatise on; 213.
Archduke:

Ernestus, letter from, to Queen Elizabeth; 203.

letter from the States General to the, 1607; 168. See
Albert; Austria.

Archduke's country, observations on the, by Sir T. Overbury;

Argyll :

Duke of, muniments of the, to be inspected; x, 402.

Earl of, Archibald, his action against the Earl of Lennox.
1541; 393.

letter touching the army of [1565]; 394.

letter of James VI. to the tenants of the, 1603; 396.
letters from the, 1603 seq.; 149, 152, 159, 174.
letters of protection by the [t. Car. I.?]; 408.
Marquis of, Archibald, bond of relief by, 1642; 413.
Lord, letters of, in the Ormonde collection; 428.
Duke of, private memorial for the, 1703; 403.

John, Commissioner to the Scotch Parliament, letters
of, 1705-6; xxv, 421.

letters relative to the, 1715; 372, 377.

Arigoni, Cardinal, letters of; 334.

Arismendy, John, of London, will of; 277.
Aristotle :

Latin treatise on, 16th cent.; 114.

a treatise falsely ascribed to (Secreta Secretorum); 243.
See Logic.

Arithmetic :

a treatise on ;

108.

Rules of, by Edward Cocker; 124.

Arley Hall (Cheshire), report on Mr. R. E. Egerton Warburton's
MSS. at; 290.

Arlington, Earl of;

letters of the, 1665-9, 245; 1666, 269; 1673, 197; 1674, 266.
letters to the, 1666, 190; 1674, seq., 190.

letters from and to, 1672; 43.

letters of the, in the Ormonde collection; 428.

Armagh, Archbishop of :

Thomas, license to, to receive native Irish into his protec-
tion, 1576; 227.

John (elect), letters of, 1660[-1]; 41.

Oliver Plunket, Transactions and Letters of, 1681; 261.

See Plunket; Usher.

Armine (York), manor of, petition touching the; 34.
Armour:

letter touching, 1559[-60]; 37.

makers, petition of, to Parliament; 178.

and bows, bill for; 231.

Arms:

College of, receipt for a subscription towards the rebuilding
of the, 1673; 293.

Office of, the first foundation of the; 213.

Officers of: Abuses committed by Painters and others to
the prejudice of the, by W. Smith, Rouge Dragon; 253.

Arms, orders to search for, 1660 and 1683; 245.

search for, 1661; 259.

orders to restore, 1664; 245.

taken at various houses, lists of [1666 ?]; 245.
letters relating to the search for, 1683; 96.

Armstrong:

Archie, son of the Laird of Quhithauch, letters touching
the custody of, 1576, 1587, and 1597; 422.
Archibald, jester or "plesant" to James I.; xxiv, 409.
attendant on Prince Charles (to Spain); xviii, 284.