Ends. Verum ut pudori tuo parcatur, hæc ipsa epistola in fronte præfigatur, ut quicquid in Speculo Caritatis (hoc enim libro nomen imponimus) lectori displicuerit, non tibi qui parueris, sed mihi qui invitum coegerim, imputetur. Vale in Christo, dilecte frater.

PROLOGUS IN SPECULO CARITATIS. Vere sanctorum vera et discreta humilitas virtus est. . . . quid vero sit negligendum discernite.

This treatise is printed in the Bibliotheca Patrum, tom. xxiii. p. 91, edit. Lugd., 1677.

On the fly leaves at the end occur some verses, of which the first is "Vox Augustini redolens de more "cumini."

A volume, in quarto, upon paper.

6. "A booke of authenticke copys concerning the concession, donation, foundation, rents, and revenues of "the English cloister of the Dominicans at Bornhem." A quarto volume, upon paper, consisting of 72 articles, upon 178 pages.

7. Various documents illustrative of the history of the English Dominican monastery while at Bornhem, near Malines, chiefly in Flemish. Among them are valuations of property, leases, rentals, lists of inmates, &c.

8. Various wills, settlements of property, foundations for masses, papers respecting the proceedings of the General Chapters and Provincial Synods of the Order. 9. Papers respecting the establishment of the English Dominicans at Bornhem by Cardinal Howard, 1657, 1658.

10. Papers on the history of the convent of the Cordeliers at Bornhem before the arrival of the Dominicans in 1657.

11. Papers connected with the history of the Irish Dominicans at Louvain, and the Irish college of Friars Preachers at Lisbon.

12. Permission granted by the master-general of the order for founding a convent of English Sisters of the Second Order in Belgium in 1660.

13. Trial of Joseph Kemish, priest, at the Old Bailey, 17 January 1679-80.

14. Copy of the order of King James II. for the pardon of Mr. Monson, 8 April 1686.

15. Original mandate of King James II. for Mr. Richard Short to be Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, dated Whitehall, 14 March 1687-88. Signed and sealed. 16. Original letter from Louis Fr. Gabriel, Bishop of Amiens, to Lady Stourton, 6 February 1645. Holograph. 17. Biographical memoir of Sister Christiana Touchet, daughter of the Earl of Castlehaven, who was professed as a nun of the order of St. Dominick at Brussels, 28 Feb. 1677, in the 21st year of her age.

18. A volume in folio, upon paper, consisting of 14 pages in a paper cover, bearing the title, "Sir Edward "Southcote's Memoirs." Two pages are blank, the rest is written in a close and compact hand, there being about 54 lines in each page.

These Memoirs consist of two letters addressed to Philip Southcote by his " loving Father, E.S." The first letter (which is undated) occupies six pages and the greater portion of a seventh. It begins thus:

"Dear Phill: Being you and your grandfather were "both military men, I shall here, a little att a time as I "have leasure, give or leave you the line of his life for your amusement when you are under your tent."

The following is an abstract of this interesting narrative:

Soon after the writer's father [Sir John Southcote] had returned from his studies beyond the sea, the civi war broke out. He obtained leave from his father and grandfather to volunteer for the King, but this was granted very unwillingly, as he was the only heir of the family, there being but one son (himself) and three daughters. The eldest of these, Mary, was a Benedictine nun at Ghent, who died at the age of 80, with great tokens of sanctity. The second daughter, Dorothy (a very handsome woman), married Colonel Stanford of Perry Hall, in Staffordshire, one of the leading beaux of the time, but had no issue. Katherine, the third, at the age of 32 made a good match with Sir John Smith of Crabbit* in Sussex, a widower of 60 years old, with 1,2001. a year. He had many children by the present marriage, though no issue by his former one.

The first adventure in which Sir John was engaged was while serving in a corps de reserve. The enemy (the Parliamentary army) observing this body of nearly 1,000 horse, fired at them with cannon, which killed several of their men and horses. He found it very unpleasant to stand still in cold blood to be thus shot at in sight of the two armies, which were now closely engaged; but this was their fate for nearly an hour. By that time the King's army had forced its way through the enemy and "nailed up" the cannon. As Oliver's troops were begining to give way the reserve were called up to pursue. This was the first occasion upon which Sir John made use of his little battle-axe, a weapon carried by all the King's troops. It hung to the wrist by a ribbon, and did not hinder the use of the pistol or sword. It was a dead doing thing," and like the masons' "laithing hammer" had a sharp little axe on one side and a hammer on the other. The hammer was most generally preferred. It was effective in felling the enemy to the ground "with one rapp upon "their round heads." This was a new invention. The enemy in reprisal first discharged their muskets and then fought with the butt end; this did great execution but spoiled the fire-arms by breaking the stock and bending the barrel.

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The army being at no great distance from Perry Hall, our hero went thither to see his brother and sister Stanford. He rode up the staircase, and did not dismount till he reached the table where they were sitting at supper. They were much pleased with his frolic and glad to see him. Next day they had great discomfort in hearing of the Earl of Northampton's misfortune. Going from Tixall House, where he was quartered, to meet a strong party at Hopton Heath, 66 in the middle of this action the Earl's horse unfortunately set his foot into a rabbit hole, which brought "the horse upon his knees, and when he was in that posture was killed out right by one stroake of a "halbert upon his head."

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During the course of the next day the rebels plundered Tixall House, "our noble lord [Lord Aston] being then a commander in Lichfield Close, and no one in the house but Lady Aston and her daughter, then about five years old.† The Parliamentarian officer ordered that Lady Aston should not be disturbed in her chamber, but a soldier in despite eased nature at her door. The rest of the house was totally plundered. Her ladyship had to beg a little new milk of a neighbour, and a skillet to boil it in; this was all the breakfast, dinner, and supper which they had that day.

Having spent one day at Perry Hall Sir John returned to the army with the ill news of the Earl of Northampton's death. Now and then skirmishes occurred, but no engagement until the first fight of Newbury, in which he was in the main body of the army, and took prisoner Captain Hall, who commanded what was called Oliver's own troop, whom he carried first to Newbury, and next (when news came that the King's army had been defeated) to Reading. Eight or ten days afterwards Southcote accepted as Hall's ransom a fine managed horse, a suit of armour, a diamond ring, and a promise to the effect that if he in his turn were made prisoner he should immediately be released without exchange.

The King hearing of this exploit made the chief performer of it a knight, but expressed some little dissatisfaction that so marked a man as Captain Hall should have been released without the exchange of a prisoner of equal rank. Sir John Southcote's friends remarked, in his defence, that as he ventured his life without receiving any pay, either for himself or his

A copy of the marriage settlement is at Woodchester, among some private deeds called the Stafford Papers.

+ She afterwards became the mother of Sir Edward Southcote.

retainers, it was reasonable that he should do as he pleased with his prisoners.

Sir John was present at the second battle of Newbury, and shortly afterwards took part in the seige of Oxford, into which he was ordered to enter before it was entirely surrounded. After this seige he was exceedingly anxious to enter the service of Prince Rupert, who was the greatest beau as well as the greatest hero in the royal army. His mode of fighting was to charge right through the enemy and then to fall upon their rear, slaughtering them with scarcely any opposition. One very cold morning he took a very fine laced handkerchief out of his pocket and tied it about his neck; hence originated the habit of wearing laced cravats. In all his attacks he was successful. A little black dog always followed him into the field, "which the Round"heads fancied was the Devill, and took it very ill that "he woud sett himself against them."

In the fatal battle of Naseby the prince forced his way through the body of horse that opposed him and "nailed up" their cannon; but meanwhile the main body of the rebel's horse broke in upon the foot of the King's army and made a fearful carnage, leaving upwards of 20,000 dead, wounded, and prisoners. The writer of this letter afterwards visited the ground and was shown the windmill in which the King sat to see the battle, and the hawthorn-bush where Oliver placed himself for the like purpose. There was a little valley, in which the foot were so hemmed that there was no possibility of flight.

After this battle the King appeared no more in the field. Sir John returned home and then travelled into Italy for a year. Then for a year or two he spent his time between Mistham and London, and became upon friendly terms with "Lady Elizabeth Cleopol," Oliver's daughter. Next, he made a pilgrimage to Loretto. On his return, being at Paris, he found letters from Lady Elizabeth asking him to buy her two damask beds, one with gold, the other with silver fringes, and also very many yards of the richest gold and silver stuffs for her own wearing.

The narrative now details the particulars of his sister's marriage, the death of his mother in London, and her burial in S. Clement's Church in the Strand; the intended second marriage of his father "with a "sister of Mr. Weston of Sutton, an ancient made of "about 50," and his death; and lastly, his own marriage with the eldest daughter of Lord Aston of Tixal. During his courtship, when on his journey to visit the lady, at Kingston-on-Thames he found that Oliver had got intelligence that he had purchased horses for his servants; whereupon he sent orders to the captain of a troop of horse there to apprehend Sir John and his men, and to carry them to Lambeth House, at that time a prison for the Cavaliers. Sir John hereupon sent a letter to "Lady Elizabeth Cleopole, who went to her "father in a huf" and explained the matter. A discharge was immediately sent, along with a complimentary excuse. Coming to Tixal, Sir John was married first by a priest, then by a Justice of the Peace, Justice Crompton, a remote relation of the Aston family.

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The writer next records his reminiscences of the great plague, he being then five years old. Next summer he heard of the fire at London, he then being at Enfield with his aunt Stanford, who had retired from London from the plague. As soon as it was dark the fire was plainly visible. He heard the people as they passed along call out "forty pounds for a cart,' any money for a cart," to carry their goods. Next morning he returned to Standon for a fortnight, and when they passed through London, the fire was still burning. One of the servants, a Frenchman, being heard to speak broken English, was seized by the constable and watchman, but Sir John explained who he was and where he lived, and having given them half-a-crown to drink, they dismissed the servant.

Appended to this letter is a postscript, in which it is mentioned that the first time Sir Edward went to Bath, he there met Sir James Long, an old friend of Sir John Southcote, with whom he had served in the garrison at Oxford. The diversion of these two at that time was to go a-birding, as they called it. Each of them armed with a long fowling-piece charged with a single bullet, walked within the works, over which if a Roundhead popped his head they fired at him, and as they rarely ever missed, they knocked over 20 or 30 of them in their morning's walk. Witham House was totally plundered after the surrender of Colchester, by a party commanded by Captain Foster, who left neither lock, latch, nor bolt on any of the doors, nor a pane of glass in the windows. They destroyed all the old writings of the

estate. In James's reign the son of this Captain Foster, though he was High Constable, and had an income of above 2001. a year, was convicted of sheep-stealing on a very large scale from Tiptree Heath, but escaped the gallows by entering into a bond in 1,000l. to make reparation to all he had wronged.

The second letter is dated Dec. 9, but no year is mentioned. It begins thus,—

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"Deare Phill: When you were here I intended to "have given you some relation of the very grand manner of my lord grandfather's living at Standon, being there is scarce anybody but myself left that "remembers it. But it went out of my mind again. "But now having a little leisure, and understanding "the bearer of this is going to London, I take this opportunity of sending you a little sketch of it."

Walter Lord Aston, grandfather to the present lord, married the Lady Mary Weston. His father was many years ambassador in Spain. The estate of Standon coming to him through his wife, a descendant of the great Sir Ralph Sadler, he removed thither, and there began his magnificent way of living. He had 101 persons in his family. The writer resided there for three or four months every summer, from the time he was six until about his fourteenth year.

The table was served with three courses, each of 20 dishes; and these were brought up by 20 men, who stamped up the great stair like thunder at every course. My lord had four servants behind his own chair. He was very curious in his wine; but first of all drank at one draught a whole quart either of malt drink or wine and water, as a remedy for stone and gravel. At all the inns he lodged at in travelling they kept a quart glass called My Lord Aston's glass. Sir Edward Southcote saw one at the Altar Stone at Banbury not many years ago. The servants all dined together in the hall, and what was left was thrown together into a tub which two men took on their shoulders to the court gate, where every day 40 or 50 poor people were served with it.

When my lord did not go hawking in the afternoon, he always played at ombre with his two sons for an hour, and at 4 o'clock returned to a covered seat in his vineyard. There he sat alone, and none durst approach him. At 5 o'clock his chariot, with a pair of his six grey Flanders mares (the chariot was made so narrow that none could sit by him), took him "a trole " about the park for five or six miles. He returned at 7, and by 8 would be in bed. He always lay in bed without pillow, bolster, or night cap. Winter and summer he rose at 4, and entertained himself with books until it was time to go a-hunting or hawking at wild ducks. He would never allow any but hunted venison at his table. Every day but Sunday one buck was killed at the least, but most commonly a brace. He never made or returned any visit, the court and address of that county being made to him.

Thus my lord lived until his son prevailed on him to return to Tixal. This was a great cross to his lady, who liked this way of living. And being now so far removed from her dear daughter Southcote, she grew melancholy and lost her wits, keeping almost perpetual silence, and refusing nourishment.

Not long afterwards his lordship died, and his corpse was attended from Tixal to Stafford by about 1,000 people. Sir Edward at Mistham kept a pack of hounds, while his father diverted himself with a goshawk for pheasants. The plot of Oates brought great perse cution upon the Catholics. His father was convicted for his religion at the county sessions to pay 201. a month as well as two-thirds of his estate, which soon ran up to 9007. For want of prompt payment he had four bum-bailiffs for five weeks in his house, who seized all the household goods and the plough horses of the tenants till he paid. Through the influence of his friend Sir John Thompson (afterwards Lord Haversham), his near and very good neighbour, Sir John Southcote obtained a Quietus from Sir Robert Sawyer, the Attorney-General. After this he lived pretty quietly, the plot losing credit daily.

Various family details follow: the death of his father and mother, the former at Drayton, the latter in St. James's Street, London. Sir Edward's marriage at Mr. Corker's Chapel in the Savoy, by Bishop Ellis. He resided at Mistham and then at Witham. Kept five or six store horses for his coach and four or five for the saddle. Had constantly five dishes at a course and three courses daily. Had also a dairy of ten cows, and the tallow from the beef and mutton was enough to supply the house with candles the year about. He continued thus for the last years of James's

reign. Then came the Revolution. Has lived ever since in the iron age of double taxes, the expenses of which have amounted "to something above 5,000l., "of what your brother and I have paid. And had "there been no land tax att all, as in all other reigns "before King William's, hee and I might have had att "this day 10,000l. in our pockets."

"Pray take this small labour in good part from Your loving Father,

E. S." The Very Rev. the Provincial of the Order will be happy to further the objects of the Commission in every way in his power.

Jos. STEVENSON.

THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE CORPORATION OF ABINGDON.ADDITIONAL REPORT.

Since the publication of the preceding Report, some additional documents belonging to the Corporation, illustrating the history of this Borough in the middle and latter part of the 16th century, have been brought to light, and have been obligingly placed before the ComBefore mission by Mr. Godfrey, the Town Clerk. entering upon a somewhat detailed account of their contents, I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of correcting a clerical error in p. 98 of the former Report. It was to Mr. Godfrey, Jun., son of the Town Clerk, and not to Mr. Morland, Jun. as there stated, that I should have expressed my obligations for his courtesy and kind attentions during my brief but pleasant visit to the town.

Chamberlains' Accounts of the Borough of Abingdon A.D. 1583-7: a series of small quarto paper sheets, which appear to have been formerly stitched together in the reverse order of the years, 1587 coming first, and 1583 last, but are now loose: the accounts for 1587 and 86, being uppermost, have been much eaten away at one corner of the leaves by mice. An entry on the obverse of the outer leaf of the first set of Accounts, describes it as the " Acounte of Rychard Tesedale, Chamberlyn ffor "the yeare 1587, W. Braunch, Mayor: "Tesedale was a member probably of the same family as Thomas Tesedale, one of the founders of Pembroke College, Oxford: this surname occurs very frequently in these records. Under each year the receipts of rents and other moneys due to the Corporation are first entered, and then the payments for the year. The writing of the entries under 1587 and 1583 is very clear, that under the other years is in various places somewhat indistinct. The names of many of the then householders of the town appear in these pages: among them are the names of Mr. Humphrye Hide, or Hyde, Edward Hardynge, Mr. Anthony Tesedale, Thomas Godfree, or Godfrey, and the families of Bostock, Bowle, and Stagpoole. Mr. Orpwood's house is mentioned more than once. In the set of Accounts next described, a Mr. Orpwood is mentioned as Mayor and Sheriff. The Sub-Mayor is occasionally cited as giving instructions for payments, in place of the Mayor. Among the localities of the town, the following are named, in general under each of the years,—Broade Streate, the Winyard, Bore Streate, East St. Helyns Streate, West Streate St. Helyns, Little Bury Lane, the Bars, Barre Streate, Bochirowe, the Steart, Bagley Close, Broade Streate, and Ockes Streate.

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"bread and a kildarkin of bere, geven to the pore upon "the Quenes holyday, xs.'

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From another Account, apparently for 1587.-" Item, "paide to Henry Vickars for a daies traynyng at the "muster for the towne viii d. Item, to Trewlock, "for making the buttes, iis. Item, paide untr two men for wearing the towne harnes at traynyng, xv d. Item, paid unto Mr. Braunche, for fetching the venysun given by my Lord Norris, vis. viii d. Item, paid "unto Thomas Bradsone, for cc. of tiles for the Schole"howse, vs. Item, paid for x. burdens of mosse for "the same Scholehowse xx d."-This custom of covering houses with moss, at a much earlier date, has been already noticed in this Report.

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From the Account for 1586.-"Item, payd to the Earll "of Lestars Players xv s. Item, payd to the Queens Players, xx 8.' Nine leaves of this account are almost entirely torn away.

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From the Account for 1585.-"Item, payd to Mr. Mayott, Maior, thatt he had payd to John Webb afftor "that he was prest for a sowdyor, iis. Item, payd to "Mr. Richird Mayott for on sadell thatt was lost by a post ryder, viii s. x d."

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From the Account for 1584. Payd Mr. Smethe, Mayor that he had layd forthe to noblemens "players, v s. Item, payd to Mr. Kesbey for wyne, sugger, and cackes, when my Lord of Lesseter cam thorowgh the town ferst thys yeere, xxviii 8, "Item, payd for on pottell of claratt wyne and a quartt "of secke, sentt to Docktar Martyn, xx d. Item, payd "for on gallon of claratt wyne sentt to the Prechor att "Mr. Maiors debeytes [or dewytes, ? 'duties"] ii s. "Item, payd to Mr. Gesbey for on gallan of claratt " and on gallan of sacke, thatt was sentt to the Earll of "Leseter at Mr. Reades, iiii s. viii d."

From the Account for 1583.--Among the disbursements are a series of Charges laid out uppon the Cage. "Item, "delivered to Mr. Branch, Maior, for to give to Earle "of Oxfordes Players y 2 daye of June, xx d. Item, given to ye Queenes Plaiers at Mr. Braunch Maior his commaundiment, xx 8. More given the same Plaiers " in wine at Mr. Braunch, Maior, his commaundiment, "xvid. Item, paid for a locke which hangeth on the "Consaile house dore viii d. Item, paid to Goddard "for riddinge ye Steart in Little Burie Lane, and for wawlinge and paving yt, iiis. Item, for timber to "kiver the said Steart, ii s. viii d. Item, given to ye Bushippe of Glocester, at Mr. Braunch, Maior, his "commaundiment, the xxxth daie of September, a pottle of sacke and another of clarret, ii s. iiii d. Item, layd out for foule which was sent to my Lord Norris, "that is, for a doosen of quailes x s., for v duckes and "mallardes ii s. vi d., for half a doosen of woodcockes "iiis., for two teales vi d., for a doosen of snites ii 8., "for six doosen of larkes iii s. iii d. Item, laid out "for my meat, when I was at London about the townes buysines ten daies, x 8. Item, for my horse-meat at the same tyme x s. x d. Item, for bote hire xii d. "Item, for horshire,-what you will. Item, for ye carrage of x lodes of stones out of the Abbye into ye Steart and Winiard iii s. iiii d. Item, for ye carrage of xii lode of stones out of the Abbie to ye "Hart, iiiis. Item, for carrage of on lode of stones "out of thabbie into Little Bury Lane iiii d. Item, "for carrage of v lode of stones out of thabbie into ye "Burie xx d. Item, for carrage of on lode of stones "out of the Abbie to ye Ilde [Guild] Hall, iiii d. Item, "for xxix lode of stones at xx d. the lode, out of the Abbie, xlviii 8. iiii d. Item, payd to William Raphe for showlinge gravell out of ye Themes, two dayes, xii d. "Item, paid to another laborer for showlinge gravell out "of ye Themes, on daie, iiii d. Item, paid to Thomas Hill, painter, for gildinge the vane uppon ye Market "house viis. For a banquet at my house, when Mr. "Box sent us a doe, xxvi s. viii d. More left unpaid "when my Lord Norris send a bucke xiiii s.'

quartes and a half of claret wine xii s. iiii d. Item, paid ffor bere xii d. Item, paid for cakes iis. Item, "paid to the Quenes Plaiers xx [8.] Item, paid for v "loades of gravill bestowed by the Marcat house xvi d. "Item, Paid to Mr. Kysby for a dyner at the etynge of venysun sent to Mr. Maior and his compainy by Mr. "Dunche, the sum of xxiii, s. Item, paid to Mr. Kisbye "for a potell of secke and a potell of claret wine 'given to the Byshyp of Salysbury at his Visitation, "at the apointment of Mr. Bostock, then Maior, iii 8. "iiiid. Item, paid to Mr. Kisby ffor vi dosune of

These Accounts occupy 92 leaves in all, including those previously mentioned as being nearly entirely torn away.

Chamberlains' Accounts of the Borough of Abingdon, A.D. 1558-81: a series of small folio paper leaves, 184 in number, in fair condition, now detached, but formerly bound up in one or more volumes, to all appearance. As in the case of the preceding set of Accounts, when bound together, they were arranged in the reverse order of the years, the year 1581 commencing the volume or volumes, and 1558 coming last. In general, these accounts are more legible, and much more carefully kept, than those previously described. The names of localities are the same as those before mentioned; the same names of families frequently meet the eye, and among surnames more or less peculiar, those of Grigg,

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a

bakenge of the same venesun v s.

Item, payd for the

Item, payd to ii Cort to Comnar Item, when the

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[Leicester's] Players, at the commaundment of Master Mayor, x s. vid. Item, paide to one in Oxford for iiii paire of gloves, at the commandement of Master Mayor, "to geve to the Judges and ther wifes at Mydsomer, "xiii iiii d. Item, paid to Mistris Fisher for ii coople "of capones and iii chykynes to geve unto my Lorde "of Laysyter, and that at ye commandiment of Mr. Mayor, viiis. Item, paid more to the goodman Kisby "for a ronelet of clarett wyne of vi gallens viii s. Item, paide to Thomas Byeson, for carrege of the same wyne Lorde, iiii d. Item, paide at the commandi"ment of Master Mayor unto Mr. Smythes Players of "Coventree iii s."

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unto my

1569. "Item, paide more at ye first Assize to Thomas "Laptone for ii fatte sheepe, and gevin to ye Shreeve, xiii s. iiii d., and paide more for ii freshe sallmons at "viii s. a peese, and gevin unto ye Shreeve. Item, paide more to Master Waynemans Players, at the "comaundement of Master Mayor, xiid. Item, paid "to John Peerse for skowring and revetyng the towne harnes, and for one dossin of poyntes to poynt the same harnes xviii d. Item, paid to Thomas Higgins "for wering of the harnes to Comnor vid."

Makeng the buttes.-Item, payd to John Wyse for "viii lodes of turf iiii s. viiid. Item, payd for dyggeng "the turf, and makeng ye buttes, v s. viii d. Making a Turk [as a mark] for shott.-Item, boards, nayles, "and makeng, xvii d. ob. Item, the paynteng xiid. "Item, payd for a dynnar geven Sir John Fettepac and "othar Justes at ye New Inn, at a mostrenge, xviii s. "viii d. Item, geven the tomblars that plad befor "Mr. Mayor and his company, in reward, iii s. ix d. "Item, paid to therle of Baths Playars, in reward, v s.'

1575. "Item, payde for fowle to give to my Lorde of "Essexe viis. id.--the same tyme for one gallyn of "muskadell iiis. iiiid. Item, the said accowntant "askithe allowans of monye by him paid at the com"mandiment of Master Mayor to ye Queenes bearward."

1574. "Item, payd to John Vernoke for a callyve "[calliver], a morrene [? morion], a towche boxe, and a "Haske, xxiis. Item, paid to the Players synce Mich"allmas, and at the commandement of Mr. Mayor, "iiii s. vi d."

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1573. "Item, paid to Master Fisher for 8 pownde of suger, and sent to my Lorde Norrys at his being in "this towne, xvid. Item, payd at the comawndiment "of Master Mayor unto Mr. Cowmptons Players iiii 8. "Item, paid to Master Stevinson for a pottell of clarret "wine x d., and a pottell of seck xvi d., and geven to my "Lady Hobbye, iis. ii d. Item, payd to Master Fisher "for xii fatt yeeles, and gevin to Master Shreve [Sheriff'], "and a suger loff, at the Lent Assize, xvii s. iiii d, "Item, payd to Master Ffisher for a pownde of suger at "the commandiment of Master Mayor, and gevin to my Ladye Hobbie, xvi d. Item, payde more to the "Erle of Wyssyters [Worcester's] Players iiii s. viii d. Item, paid mony unto the sowldiers, more then was gatheryde at the goynge forthe, vi s. viii d. Item, payde more for a payer of shoos for the towne soldyer "xvid. Item, payde for a dagger for the same soldyer "iii s. iiii d. Item, delyveryd him in his purse redy "mony ii s. Item, payd for wine and appulls for, and

at too severall tymes uppon, Master Dunche, ii s. ii d." 1572. "Item, payde to Master Pudseye for makyng "of two bylles indentyd of the presentment of xii men "for eatyng fleshe in the Lent, accordyng to the Statute, 66 iiii 8.

1571. "Item, paide more to the same Master Pudseie, "at Trynytye Terme, layd out upon expences for him"self and his horse, first at Henleye goying towards "London, his dyner, vii d. His horsemeate at Henleye "iiid. His supper at Colbrocke [Colnbrook] viiid. His "horsemeat that night viii d. Item, at London, being "ther viii days, for meate and dryncke, ixs. Item, for "his horsemeate at London, for viii days at vid. daye "and night, iiii s. Item, paide to the Queenes beare"warde vis. viii d. Scolemaster-Item, payde to "Master Argall, at the commawndement of Master Mayor, x s.'

1570. "Item, payde unto my Lorde of Laysyters

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1568. "Item, payd to the Queenes Players, at the commawndement of Master Mayor, vii s."

1567. "Item, to here [Goodwife Kysbie] paide more "for a pottell of secke and a pottell of claret wine, and a pownde of suger, send to my Lorde Bishope of Sarum, "iis. x d.-Goodes of Roger Virall, distrayned for rent "the 3 day of November. Item, inprimis, twoo sawcers, "two platters, one potinger, three brass kettelles, a skellett, a skymer, one owld chaffing dishe, a friing pan, a broche [spit], a pot of brasse, tow candill stickes, a "table, and a joynyd forme, which implementes are all in "the Cownsell howse, saving the tabull and the forme, "which are at John Walkelletes, fuller, etc."

1565. "Item, payd for drynck for the men that brot "the stoune from the pyllorye into the Scole howse yerd "viid. Item, payd for glovers shreddes for to make sysse for the walles [of the Yeld Hall] x d. Distraynyd a flew, or fishing nett, for ii yeres rett of John Laud.” 1564. "Item, payd to ye Players, at ye commandment "of Master Mayor and his brethren, iis. id. Item, payd mor to the Quenes Players, at the commaundement of Master Mayor, ii s."

1563. "Item, payd uppon the Assencion Day un[to] "the Players that playd before Master Mayor in the "Yelde Hall, at Master Mayors comandiment, xxd. "Item, payde to Gerret Steyneborke, for makying a spyndyll for the wether cocke, with a flower in the mydill of ye spindill, xii d.; payd more to Willm "Jerret for mending tymbre worke a boughte ye same "bell ii d.; payd to Suttons man for logating ye same "bell, and leggyng of formes in the Yelde Hawle, vi d." 1562. "Item, payde to Mr. Amyes Clarke, at the syttyng of inquyrye of Abbaye landes and howses, "iii s v d."

1558. "Item, payd for a chest carried from the Church to the Cownsell howse, and for the keye thereof, v d." This last Account contains a list of the names of all the then tenants of the Corporation property, with the amount of yearly rent due from each.

In addition to the two preceding series of Accounts, there are still existing six mutilated leaves of an oblong folio book, or set, of Accounts, of probably earlier date; four of which contain receipts by the Chamberlain, Wyllyam Wyttynton, of rents and other payments due to the Corporation from tenants and other persons in the year 1557: the names of the localities are also given, being similar to those already mentioned. The other two leaves contain, apparently, rough notes of payments made by Richard Ely, Chamberlain, between Michaelmas 1557 and Michaelmas 1558. The entries are decipherable, but quite destitute of interest; with the exception of the following,-"Item, paid to Adams for a load of stones, "digynge in thabbie, for grownd pinnynge, ii d."

HENRY THOMAS RILEY,

THE PETYT MANUSCRIPTS: INNER TEMPLE.

William Petyt, Keeper of the Records in the Tower, in the reign of Queen Anne, and at one time Treasurer of the Inner Temple, made a large collection of printed books and manuscripts, which, after his decease, came into the possession of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, in the year 1708.

Among these manuscripts two of the most remarkable. volumes are those marked No. 538, Vols. 46 and 47: thick folios, which have been recently rebound, in red morocco leather, the contents being in general carefully mounted on stout paper.

The original title of the first of these two volumes seems to have been, from a fragment of parchment inlaid in the paper on rebinding,-" Originall Letters "of severall Kings and Queenes, the Life of St. Edmund,

Archbishop of Canterbury." In the catalogue made by Petyt himself, or under his inspection, fol. 276, the volume is thus described:-" A Collection of Originall "Letters of Queene Anna Cleve, Edward 6, Queen Mary and Elizabeth, and Great Men. Considerations "about a peace with Spane, and reasons for and against

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"it. Secret and last instructions given by Phillip "2d King of Spaine to his Sonne Phillip the 3rd, touching how to governe himself after the decease of "his said Father. A Copy of the Elector of Saxony "his Answer to the King of Denmarkes Letters for a "League to be made between the princes of Religion. "A Treatise of peace between England and France, "1498."

The following is a somewhat fuller account of the diversified contents of this volume :

:

Fol. 2. A Letter, in Latin, finely written, addressed, in the name of the "Consules and Præconsules" of Cadiz, to William Lord Burleigh, High Treasurer of England, asking for compensation for damage done to Cadiz by the English Fleet. The fleet would have perished they say, from famine, in the opinion of many, had it not been relieved by the ships of Cadiz (nostratum naves). It is not signed, but is endorsed, in the same hand in which the rest of the letter is written,— 'Humilis declaratio Jacobi Kemerlingk, nomine inclyti "Senatus Gedanensis, apud suam Reginalem Majestatem Angliæ agentis."

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Fol. 4. A Letter from the Privy Council to the Princess Mary, signed by "E. Somerset, T. Cant.," and others, endorsed "To my Lady Marye's grace." The date is indistinct, but apparently, Richmond, "7 July 1549."

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Fol. 5. A Letter from King Edward the Sixth to the Princess Mary (apparently the original), dated 25th of November 1547, asking her to exchange manors which she has in Essex, St. Ösythes, Claxton Magna, Claxton Parva, and Willeighe. It has the signature, apparently in the king's hand, "Edward" at the top. This letter has been printed in Nichols's "Literary Remains of "Edward VI.", edited for the Roxburgh Club, in 1867.

Fol. 7. A Letter signed by "E. Somersete" and the rest of the Council, with the signature "Edward" at the top, and-" By the King," addressed to the Princess Mary 22nd of July 1550. It notifies the appointment of Lord Riche as Chancellor, and Sir William Petre as one of the principal Secretaries. Hopes are expressed that she will show herself "Conformable to that which on our behalf shall by them be proposed," a change of her religion, namely.

Fol. 9. A Letter from the Princess Mary to King Edward the Sixth; in a cramped hand, and very faint ink. At the end is written, in larger writing and a darker ink:-"From Beau Lyeu, the xvith of Maye, scrybled with a rude hande." It concludes,-"Your Majestye's most humble Sister, Marye."

Fol. 10. A Letter of Prince Edward to the Princess Elizabeth, 18th of December 1546. Printed in Nichols's Literary Remains of Edward VI." (p. 32), with two slight errors.

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Fol. 12. A Letter from Maria, daughter of Emanuel, late King of Portugal, to the Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII., King of England; in Latin, and finely written. It is dated "Santarem [Santarenam], Nonis (5) Decembris 1546." A complimentary letter to the Princess, extolling her virtue and erudition.

Fol. 13. A Letter from Anne of Cleves to the Princess Mary, dated the 8th of January 1553, and signed"Your asured lowyng frynd to her lyue [s'end], your to command, Anna the Dow[ager] off Cleves."

inserted, being a treatise addressed to Pope Paul V. in favour of the Venetians. Its title is," Ad Paulum V. "Pont. Max. Epistolæ IIII. Clarissimorum Italiæ "Jurisconsultorum. Phinopoli 1606."

Fol. 29. A list, in writing of the early part of the 17th century:-"MSS. out of John Fox his Study." There are 23 articles mentioned, several of which are bound up in the present volume. It begins with "1. "Regis Henrici Sexti Miracula,"-probably, BlackOn the Virtues and Miracles of Henry the Sixth, published by Hearne at the end of Otterbourne. "Vita et Mors Regis Edwardi Secundi, ex Gallico "Thomæ de la Moore, Equitis, in Latinam versa:" this is contained in the next volume, or Vol. 47.

Fols. 31-33. "Della dispositione dell' Inghelterra per questa impressa." Finely written, with faint ink, in a hand of the 17th century.

Fols. 35-379. A large mass of papers relative to the war with Spain, and foreign affairs generally at the close of Elizabeth's reign. The following is a summary of them, with but little variation, as given in fol. 35, the various articles themselves being written in different hands :-Against making peace with the Spaniards. Conditions touching the intended peace with

Fol. 36. Fol. 47. them.

Fol. 49. Articles betwixt the King of Spain and the Leaguers" Copye made by the original brought from "Paris."

Fol. 53. A Discourse of the state of Denmark and Norway, A.D. 1588.

Fol. 66. An Overture how Queen Elizabeth might readily have peace with Spain.

Fol. 69. Reasons of State against peace with Spayn. Fol. 83. Conditions of resignation of the 17 Provinces by the King of Spayn to the Archduke. Fol. 87. A treatise not to trust an enemy. Fol. 103. Conditions touching peace with Spayn. Fol. 139. Reasons for peace with Spayn, and an answer to it. Fol. 142. "Genevam."

"Duces Sabaudiæ nihil juris habent in

Fol. 156. A Letter to the Earl of Essex against peace with Spayne; in Latin.

Fol. 162. The French King's speech to the Parisians, going to war; in Latin.

Fol. 164. Articles with the Estates of the 17 Provinces, when they were given to the Archduke.

Fol. 166. "Treatise" of Blois, between Queen Elizabeth and Charles IX. of France, A.D. 1572.

Fol. 168. Instructions given by the Archbishop of Lyons to the Duke of Guise.

Fol. 171. A "Treaty" that it is lawfull for a Popish Priest to make a league with a Protestant.

Fol. 175. A Letter from the State of Geneva to Queen Elizabeth, touching their distresses; in French.

Fol. 180. Propositions from the Commissioners of England to them of Spayne; in English and French. Fol. 183. The authority granted to the Earl of Leicester in the Low Countries; in Latin.

Fol. 187. A Coppie of the Elector of Saxony his Answer to the Kinge of Denmarke's Letter for a League to be made between the Princes of the (Reformed) religion; in English.

Fol. 194. A Relation of Cales Voyage, 1596-the Expedition under the Earl of Essex to Cadiz.

Fol. 198. A Treatise, in Latin, for all princes to oppose the Spanish greatnesse.

Fol. 220. Conditions offered by Sigismund, King of Sweden, to the Poles, to chuse him King; in Latin.

Fol. 224. The Answer of the States of [the] Low Countryes to the Poles, why they obey'd not the Spanyard; in Latin.

Fol. 229. Letter by the King of Navarre to the Clergy and Nobility of France and Paris, A.D. 1586; in Latin. Fol. 241. Copy of a Letter of the City of Verona to Brescia; in Italian.

Fol. 244. "In Libellum Baronianum." In Latin : it begins-" In Libellum Baronium [sic] la. Gu. Co. Cr. I. V. D. Salvete, qui salutem nobis denegastis." The penmanship of this treatise is exquisite.

Fol. 256. A printed broad sheet, with the Venetian Lion at the top, being a Declaration of Leonardo Donato, Doge of Venice, against the Bull of Pope Paul V.; in Latin. "Impressa apud Rampazettum Typographum "Ducalem."

Fol. 257. A Letter of a Suisse Canton to the Pope, 28th May 1606; in Italian.

Fol. 259. Copy of a Letter from the King of Spain to the Pope; in Italian.

Fol. 262. A discourse from the Agent in Turkey, in