same upon paine of iij s. iiij d. for ev'y beof, ij s. for every swyne, & xij d. for every sheep weh shalbe solde or sent to be solde in maner aforesaid, totiens quotiens. Of wch paine the Soveraigne for the tyme shall have the third parte, the Comens and the spyer the residue, to be equally devided betweene them. Provided that the Soveraigne for the tyme being with the advise of his counsell may lycence such as they shall thinck in discress'on to sell or send foorth any fleash out of towne to be solde where it shall please the owner, so that the toune be sufficiently furnished then with other like cates and fleash, li. 2, 55 a."

1544. Walterus Archer, Superior:

66

Election of the Soveraigne after Lammas:

"M" that where by Walter Courcy [h]is tyme being Soveraigne of the said towne, in the viijth yere of the raign of of Sov'aigne lord King Henry the viijth, by the assent of the said Sov'aigne, the burgess, and com'ons of the said towne it was enacted, ordained, and established that the Soveraigne for the tyme should from thence foorth be choosen yerly in the Tolsell of the said towne, & not elswhere, the Monday next after the exaltacion of the crosse as by the same estatute more pla'nlier it doth appeare; wch statute notwithstanding in considerac'on that the whole com'ons by reason of their resort to sundry fayers, whereupon rested a great part of their living, could not be at the said election, being so nigh the day of the fayer: And to the entent that the Sov'aigne for the next yere following shall have some convenient respite as well to have his provision as otherwise to prepare himself for the wourshipp of the said towne: It is therefore enacted and established that from hensefoorth the same election of the Soveraign shalbe yerly the Monday next after lammas day, otherwise called the feast of St. Peter the advincle, and that every freman of the said towne wch shalbe absent at the said election or choosing of the Sov'aign shalbe utterly discommoned and bereved of his fredom for one twelvemoneth following. And after to made a grevous fyne wth the Sov'aign, burgesses and com'ons before he be receaved to the same liberty or fredom againe, li. 2, fol. 59 b.

66

Shomakers, weavers, and teaslers putting upp shopps nere the market cross:

the cornell shopp unto the style of our lady churchiard adioyning to St. Peter [h]is priests chamber upon payne of vis. viij d. totiens quotiens, to be forfaicted by the owner of the shopp and the occupier of the same equally. Of which forfaict the Sov'aign for the tyme being shall have the one half and the commons th'other half, li. 2, f. 60 a."

"Prices of victuals:

66

Item, It is lykewise condiscended and agreed that the assise stynt and price of bread, ale, and fleash, and all other victuall shalbe contynued and kept at lyk price and fashion as the same was lymited and written in this present book the xxxyth year of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Henry the VIII., Robert Sheth being Soveraigne; that is to say, every penny woorth of good white bread without lovaine, shall containe ii. pound; and white lovaine bread to contayne i. li. and di.; and browne bread of other sort, the penny woorth to containe iiii. li. upon paine lymited by the chartor (that is to say) xii. d. for the first default, ii. s. for the second default, and so foorthe, etc., and that every gallon of good wholsom ale be sold for iii. d. upon like paine, etc., li. 2, fol. 60 a."

The penmanship of this volume is in the various contracted styles of the early part of the 17th century, the most elegant portions being those from page 86b to 119. The transcription bears evidence of careful revision and exact references are inserted to authorities from which extracts are given. Although Rothe's Register of the House of Ormonde* was known and referred to from the time of its author, mention is not to be found of this his much larger work on Kilkenny. As yet no similar compilation is known to be extant made at so early a period in connection with the history of any town in Ireland.

Rothe's Manuscript is in excellent condition in its original oaken boards, on which portions of the red leather and brass fastenings still remain. It has been temporarily placed in the library of the Royal Irish Academy by its present owner.

This long hidden book will, apart from local associa tions, be regarded with interest as a literary monument of the family of Rothe, which, under adverse circumstances at home, contributed a learned and patriotic episcopal writer to Ireland, and, down to the present century, gave eminent officers to France, Austria, and Russia.

Dublin.

J. T. GILBERT.

* See notice of it in Report on MSS. of O'Conor Don, in present appendix.

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.

The Commissioners will also, if so requested, give 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 calendered 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, WD. GEO. BRETT,

Secretary.

A.

Aæria, Josep de, to D. Methuen ; I. 15.

Abbadie, Jacques, Dean of Killaloe, letters of; II. 232.

Abbey of the Holy Ghost, The (a treatise, 15th cent.); II. 106.
See Alcock, Bishop.

Abbeys, a book relating to; I. 32.

Abendonensis monasterii, Psalterium secundum morem Nigro-
rum Monachorum (printed, black-letter, 1528); II. 127.
See Abingdon.

Aberbrothock, Registrum de; II. 186.

Abercorn, Lord, letters of, 1720; I. xiii.; II. 232, 235.
Abercrombie, Dr. ; II. 205.

Abercromby:

General, letters of; II. 29.
George, letters of; II. 27.

Sir James, letters of; II. 188, 189.

Sir R., letters of; II. 29.

Abercromby's letter to Lord Brougham; II. 192.

Aberdeen:

burgh of, records of the; I. xii.

report on the records of the; I. 121.

church of, lists of elders and deacons of the; I. 122.
collegiate church of St. Nicholas, register and chartulary

of the; I. 111, 122, 123.

monastic houses of, charters of the; II. 200.

Carmelite, Franciscan, and Dominican friars at, charters of
the; I. 111.

Franciscan convent of, mortuary of the; II. 201.
presbytery of, a protestation against the; II. 198.
University of, letters to doctors and professors of the; I. 113.

documents belonging to the; II. xix.

report on the records and MSS. of the; II. 199.
King's College, Principal of, Dr. Guild; I. 121.
Marischal College, records of; II. 200.

Blair's College, near, the collection of MSS. at; I. 112.
Old, Orem's history of; II. 200.

Bishops of, charters by; II. 180.

Aberdeen, Earl of: I. 19.

letters of the (beginning of 18th cent.); I. 118.

Aberdonensis, Martyrologium secundum usum Ecclesiæ (15th
cent.); I. 111, 121.

Aberdonensium Episcoporum, Boetius de vitis; II. 146.
Abingdon :

Corporation of, records of the; 1. xi. ; II. xv.

report on the records of the; I. 98.

additional report on the records of the; II. 149.
some MSS. belonging to, repaired and bound; II. ix.
Abbot of, Ethelwold, his translation of the Rules of St.
Benedict; I. 94.

Papal Nuncio, an absolution by; I. 96.

Christ's Hospital at, records of; I. xi.

report on the MSS. of the; I. 98.

See Abendonensis.

Accounts-cont.

at Wells; I. 107.

at Westminster Abbey; I. 95, 96.

in the Chapter Archives, York; I. 97.
at York; I. 109, 110.

parcels of, at Nottingham; I. 105, 106.
register of, at Edinburgh; I. 126.

rolls of, belonging to the Dean and Chapter, Norwich; I. 59.
college; I. 64 sq., 78 sq.; II. 117 sq., 128 sq.
monastic, 15th cent.; II. 119.

Public, Commissioners for, 1668; I. 51.

79.

temp. Ann.; I. 54.

journals of proceedings before the, 1700 sq; II.

secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; ib.
Administrations, copies of, at Tabley House; I. 46.
at King's College, Cambridge; I. 67.
Admiral, Lord High, George Prince of Denmark; I. 22.
Admiralty, the; I. 19, 21 (bis).

"De officio Admiralitatis Angliæ;" II. 40.

a treatise on; II. 41.

letter of, 1718; II. 217.

letters of, 1733; II. 212.

letters dated at, 1759; I. 41.

orders of (17th cent.); I. 17.

Court of, commissions of appeal in the ; I. 34.

treatises on the practice of the; I. 43; II. 156.
Lords Commissioners of the, letters to the, 1695; II. 2.
Lords of the, send a squadron against the Czar, 1719; I. 41.
Registrar of, [in Ireland,] notes of fees received by him
and his clerks; II. 156.

suits, commission and articles of inquiry in, 1626; I. 43.
Adrian VI., Pope, account of the election of; II. 90.
Adriatic, papers relating to the formation of an Imperial navy
in the, 18th cent.; II. 212.

Advertisement of a loyal subject to his gracious Sovereign

(James I.); I. 47; II. 51.

Advocates' Library. See Edinburgh.

Equatorium Campani, a Latin treatise called;

Aeronaut, letters of an, 18th cent.; I. 127.

Africa:

I. 46.

travels, &c. of Capt. John Smith in, 1593-1629; II. 4.
account of" the petrified city" in; II. 116.

Agar, Thomas, to Viscount Hatton; I. 15.

Aghaboe fair; II. 260, 261.

Agincourt, battle of, contemp. letter touching the; II. 94.
Aglionby, William, to the Earl of Nottingham; I. 15.

Agnew, Thomas, letters of; II. 188.

Aids, commissions to levy, temp. Hen. VI. et Edw. IV.; II. 94.
Ailesbury:

Lord, letter of, 1682; I. 15.

letters of, 18th cent.; I. 127.

and Elgin, Lord, letter of, 1735; I. 15.

Ainslie:

Miss, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, report on a MS. of; II. xii.,

68.

Robert, letters of; II. 190 (bis).

Airlie :

Earl of, report on the MSS. of the, in preparation; I. 112.
his MSS. at Cortachy; II. xvii.

report on his papers at Cortachy Castle; II. 186.
letters of the, 1652-4; II. 191.

Earls of, papers of the; II. 187, 188.

Countess of, letter of the, 1654; II. 191.

Alva, Duke of, letters from the nobility of Scotland to the, 1568;
II. 183.

Ambassadors :

A view of the privileges of, by Sir R. Cotton; I. 42.
Relation of the proceedings against ambassadors that ex-
ceed their commission, by Sir R. Cotton; II. 44, 90.
accounts of, temp. Car. II.; II. 83.

and foreign ministers, list of presents to, from Chas. II. to
George II.; II. 83.

credentials to, temp. Ann.; II. 79.

audiences of, papers touching, 18th cent.; II. 83.

British, at foreign courts, correspondence of, 1768-72; II,
26; 1782-9, II. 30 1783, I. 13.

America:

travels, &c. of Capt. Jchn Smith in, 1593-1629; II. 4.
a proposal for supplying provisions in (no date); I. 28.
letters touching the discontents in, 1765; II. 12.
copy of Lord Chatham's plan for settling, 1775; II. 28.
papers relating to affairs in, 1778; II. 192.
documents connected with; II. 216.

North, letter to the commander of H.M. forces in, 1783;
II. 20.

North-west continent of, observations on Great Britain's
right to the, &c. (1748 ?); II. 3.

American:

affairs, letters on, 1766; II. 30.

(North) colonies, papers relating to the, 1764-5; II. 2.
Rebellion, Gibbon's letter on the; I. 41.

letters and papers touching the; II. 12, 13, 24, 28,
29, 30, 48.

Amiens, Bishop of, Louis Fr. Gabriel, letter of; II. 147.

Amity, bonds of (Scotch); II. 178. See Friendship, bonds of.
Amphitrion, sive de Jovis et Alcmene amoribus (MS. 14th

cent.); II. 81.

Ampleforth, St. Lawrence's College:

MSS. in the library of; II. xiii.

report on MSS. in the library of; II. 109.

Amsterdam, letters dated at, 18th cent.; I. 19, 40, 41; II.

A. (?), to Lord Hatton; I. 15.
C., et al., to Lord Hatton; I. 15.
E., to Lord Hatton; I. 15.

J. (?), to Lord Hatton; I. 15.

Thos., to Lord Hatton; I. 15.

Angell, Nich., letter to; I. 30.

Angers, expenses of students at, 17th cent.; I. 116.
Angevilliers, M. d', letters to; II. 32.
Anglesey:

Earl of, Lord Privy Seal, temp. Car. II.; II. 213.
his treatise concerning Parliaments; II. 7.
Lord, letters of [beg. of 18th cent.]; I. xiii.; II. 232.
the party of, 1714; II. 234.

Angleterre, Les Annales d' (from Brutus to Q. Eliz.); I. 124.
Anglo-Norman instruments, in the Hatton Collection; I. 14.
Anglo-Saxon charters, in the Hatton Collection; I. viii., 14.
in Westminster Abbey, I. 95. See Saxon.
Anglo-Saxon glosses; I. 14.
Anglo-Saxon Homilies, 10th cent.; I. 14; about to be printed
by the Early English Text Society; II. ix.
Anglo-Saxon times, a will and charters of the (at Peniarth);
II. 105.

Anglo-Saxon volume, a, (King Alfred's translation of Orosius);
I. 60.

Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman Princes and Kings, genea-
logies of; II. 42.

Anglorum Gestis, excerpta ex, (MS. 12th cent.); II. 145.

Angus:

liber de miraculis; ib.

de viris illustribus ; ib.