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At this part of the volume the accounts for several years are missing. The names of the inhabitants of Chedder and Draycot, as assessed to several churchrates, in the intervening years, are given, on several occasions.

The Churchwardens' Account for 1664 :-Paid John "and James Moore for redeeming out of Turkey 6d. Paid 2 soldiers travelling from Cornwall to Portingall.. 8d."

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The Churchwardens' Account for 1666:-"Given to a poore man coming out of Ireland to Barstable [Barnstaple].. 8d. Paid for a booke of thankesgivinge the 23th of August.. 6d. Paid for a booke "for the Fast the 10th of October. . 6d. Given to a poore man, 2 women, and 5 children, going to Irland ".. 18. Given to 2 maymed soldiers, their wives, "and children 18. Given to a poore gentellwoman, "and 10 more of her company.. 18. Paid for a latten "box to collect money in . . 8d. Paid for a breakfast "for the ringers the 5th of November . . 10s. Paid "for a supper for a 11 poore persons, that was travelling "from London to Cornwall 28. Given to a seaman, which was taken by the French. . 6d."

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The Churchwardens' Account for 1672:-"Given to 3 poore men taken by the Holander. . 1s. 6d. Given "to a poore woman, taken by the Dutch 6d. Given a poore man, taken by the Dutch [3 cases] . . 4d. "Given 3 poore gentlewomen and 3 children.. 18." The Churchwardens' Account for 1674:-"For meak“ing the rat [making the rate] . . 28."

In making the preceding extracts, no mention has been made of the fact, that a very large proportion of the items in the Churchwardens' Accounts, from beginning to end of the book, consist of payments made by them to men and boys for killing vermin and wild birds. From the prodigious quantities mentioned, the heads being enumerated by very many dozens, in some years, the place must have been overrun with these pests, in the earlier part of the 17th century more particularly. Next in number to sparrows, the reward for killing which was assessed at one penny per dozen, were "whoops," or bulfinches, [still called "hoops" in Somerset] the tariff price for which was 12 pence the dozen heads. Choughs were valued at 6 pence the dozen heads; crows and rooks 12 pence the dozen, jays 12 pence the dozen, and peimagettes, or meigetepeys, (magpies) which appear only in the closing years of the volume, 12 pence the dozen. Mice also are only mentioned, as being thus exterminated, in the later pages, at one penny per dozen; polecats throughout at 2 shillings per dozen; rats 4 shillings per dozen, hedgehogs 2 shillings per dozen; and grayes, or badgers, with foxes, at 12 pence per head. Choughs (choffes) seem to be the most numerous birds in the closing pages of the book.

The following are the names of families of most frequent occurrence during this period (A.D. 1612-74) in Chedder, Draycot, and the vicinity :-Colston, Bythesea, Jefferyes, Ven, Edgell, Crespin, Durban, Spenser, Hardwich, Whiting, Boole, Petty, Spiring, Gorges, Comer, Crooker, and Stor. The surnames "Ney" and "Kniller" are also met with.

HENRY THOMAS RILEY.

THE CORPORATION OF KINGSTON-ON-THAMES. Before entering upon the results of my inspection of the records and documents belonging to this Corporation, I cannot but avail myself of the opportunity of expressing my obligations to the Worshipful the Mayor of Kingston-on-Thames, William Hardman, Esquire, at whose suggestion the examination was made, for the valuable assistance which he personally afforded me during the execution of my task. Thanks to his extensive acquaintance with the past history of the town, my labours in turning over dozens of mutilated books and documents, several of them literally crumbling to dust, were lightened in no small degree.

The Corporation records, generally speaking, so far as those assuming the form of volumes are concerned, are in a very neglected state, and, in some instances, in various stages of mutilation or decay. So far, however, as absolute decay is concerned, the present Corporation, and indeed their more immediate predecessors, seem in

CORPORATION OF

no way to blame. The town has suffered frequently, in former times, from inundations of the Thames; and on KINGSTON

one, at least, of these occasions, the Corporation docu- ON-THAMES. ments, as I am informed, came in for their share of the devastation caused thereby. Though great the mischief resulting from this mishap, there is much left, that is valuable in many points of view, in a comparatively perfect state; and the Mayor and Corporation will, I both hope and believe, take in no bad part my suggestion, that these, the sole memorials of the long-past social history of their town, should now receive at their hands a degree of attention, in the way of classification, repair, and binding, which, to all appearance, has been utterly denied them for the last century or more.

The earliest volumes among the Corporation Records begin no earlier than the reign of Henry the Seventh, a date to which the old iron-bound chest or coffer, on wheels, still preserved in the muniment-room, apparently belongs. It was probably provided at the time when books, or volumes, recording the transactions of the Corporation, first began to be kept. Very possibly, however, volumes belonging to earlier reigns may have once existed, and have long since perished; but, so far as I am aware, there seems to be no sufficient reason for believing such to have been the case.

In conformity with the ancient privileges of the town, grants made by the Corporation, or bearing reference to it, were enrolled among its archives; in addition to which, deeds relating to many estates in Surrey and Middlesex, and even other Counties, were then registered by the authorities, or deposited with them in duplicate. Hence it is, no doubt, that some hundreds of parchment deeds and conveyances, dating between the reigns of Henry the Third and Elizabeth, are still to be found among the Corporation archives. They are in a confused and neglected state, and, except in the case of some of the earlier reigns, would perhaps hardly repay the trouble of a thorough examination; save in reference to the probability of their throwing light upon questions of pedigree, and the former topography of the town and neighbourhood. On this point, I would only add that among them there are several deeds bearing reference to various members of the family of Pakington in the time of Henry the Eighth.

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This town has had several Charters granted to it by the English sovereigns, from King John downwards. Its second Charter, granted by John in his tenth year, still exists, and in good condition; but the first, granted by him in his first year, as to the exact date of which there has been some discussion among antiquaries, seems now to be wanting: most, if not all, the later Charters, are still to be found among the muniments of the Corporation. The second Charter is dated at Tantone [Taunton]" by the hand of Hugh de Welles, Archdeacon "of Wells, on the 23rd day of September, in the 10th year of our reign." This Hugh, as noticed elsewhere in the present year's Report, was brother of Jocelyn, Bishop of Wells, who is one of the witnesses; and Hugh himself, almost immediately after the above date, was appointed Bishop of Lincoln. The following are the various volumes of the Corporation Records:

Book of Churchwardens' Accounts, No. I., 12 Henry VII. to 30 Henry VIII.; a small folio paper volume, in rough calf binding, of about the year 1680 to 1700. It formerly contained 192 written pages, but it is now mutilated at the beginning, nearly all the first leaf being wanting, and some of the matter at the end, owing mainly to damp. This volume is mentioned in Brayley and Britton's "History of Surrey," and it appears to have been examined by Lysons, for his "History of the "Environs of London." Under the 22nd of Henry VII. (and subsequent years), payments received as the "Suethen Swithin] farthenge are mentioned; also, a payment "to ye menstrelle upon May day, iiiid. Item, "to ye same for hys drynke, id. Item, for garterynge "of iiii dosen bellys [putting thongs upon hand-bells], "iii d. Item, for ii celderkins of medell ber [middle beer], and on of dobell, iiii s. iiiid. Item, for paynting of a banar for Roben Hode, iiid. Item, for a crowne for ye lady, viii d. Item, for ye makynge ye “More's [Morris-dancer's] garments, and for ye daunsars, and for ye met, and for fitting of ye ger [gear] "at London, ix s. iiii d. Item, for bellys for ye daunsars, xii d. Item, to ye taberare, vis. viii d. Item, "for a leutare [lutonist], ii s." These entries bear reference to the Robin Hood games, which were here celebrated, under the auspices of the Churchwardens, in those days.

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CORPORA tattered condition, being damaged by damp, and all broken away from the binding. Like most of the other ON-THAMES. early volumes in the possession of the Corporation, it ought, if possible, to be rebound.

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Book of Churchwardens' Accounts, No. III., 15671681; a small folio volume of about 200 leaves of paper, in good condition, and bound in rough calf of about the latter date, to match the preceding volumes. On page 2 is entered," Paid the whipper of the dogges, howll yer, "xvi. d. Payd for drynke the iiii yousyall festes of ye yer, xii d." A large amount of information may be gathered from this volume as to the former history of Kingston; and some particulars, probably, as the accounts seem to be very full, in reference to ecclesiastical vestments in the early days of the Reformation. In the years 1577 and 78 there are receipts by the Churchwardens," Of the women upon Hockmundaye," vii 8. and v s. iid., but the item does not seem to occur after the latter year. The loan of the pall, at this date, for funerals, at 12d. each time, seems to have been a standard source of revenue.

"Accounts of the Bridgewardens, Churchwardens, "Chamberlains, and Receivers of the rents of the "Lands of Clement Mileham, from the 24th of Henry "VII. [A.D. 1509] to the 3rd and 4th of Philip and "Mary [A.D. 1557]." A small folio volume of about 50 leaves of paper, in similar rough calf binding to the preceding ones, and somewhat damaged by damp; some leaves, 18th to 21st of Henry VIII., have also been cut out. This does not enter, like the other books already named, into the minutiae of the Churchwardens' accounts; it containing solely meagre lists of sums total, destitute of interest. The Churchwardens' accounts from 1539 to 1560 seem to have been lost nearly two centuries ago, when these volumes were rebound.

"Book of the Chamberlains' Accounts, No. II." (the preceding Volume, apparently, having been regarded as No. I.); a small folio volume of about 280 leaves of paper, bound in rough calf, like the preceding ones. It extends from 1567 to 1637, but its contents seem to have been bound up without due regard to chronological order. The contents of this volume are of a very diversified character, and, to all appearance, there are many curious things in it. In 1573 the item twice occurs," Paide to a boye of the house for ringing a

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bason, ii d." Under 1601,-"Item of Mr. Price, for a "fine, for usinge indiscrett speches, xl s." In the same year, also, we find the Chamberlains of the town selling, apparently by auction, sheets, beds, bolsters, and coverlets, in great numbers, "a washing-stool" and " "coverlett full of holes," probably fines, or goods seized for rent. In 1622 occurs the item, "for a painted coate for the whipper vis. vid.-not the dog-whipper, to all appearance, but the official whose duty it was to whip offenders. In the same year-"Paid for a vizard xii d." it being used to cover the face of the whipper, "Paid for cordes to tye the "cucking-stoole iid.; "Paid for a lambe given to "Sir Edward Cooke." Under 1635, "Paid for a cart "to carry away cripples xx s.," where they were carried to we are not told.

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The following are some further extracts from this curious volume :-In 1568 (p. 6) the names of the town Bailiffs are entered as Jeames Norman and Gertrewd Tolarge." P. 12, A.D. 1569, "Paid to William "Notton for a bore geven to Mr. Attorne." P. 24, 1571, "Paid to Richard Jennens for a fiche to my

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Lord of Arondelle, and for my Lord Mayor and "Aldermen beinge at the Crane v s. Paid for a galone "of sacke for my Lord Mayor, at the Crane, ii s. Paid "the good man of the Crane for frewt xii d." P. 29, 1572, "Payd at ye Crane for wyen and pypins geven "to ye Byshope, ii s. Payd to ye Kynge of Harrolds, XX 8." [ [Garter King of Arms, no doubt, is meant]. P. 30, 1572, "Payd more to Brown for making ye cockyngstole, viii s. Paid to Grymsdyche for a ireon "worke for ye same, iii s. Paid to Parker for xxxi "foote of tymber for ye cockyngstole, vii s. vid." P. 59, 1576, Payde to Mr. Wever for the dyscharging "of the towne for eating of fleshe [in Lent] iis. Payde "to Robert Wallen for whyght wasshing over the "Judges hede vii d." P. 61, 1576, "Paid to Jaymes "Ware for wyne given to Mr. Attorney in Mr. Chap"man's parke viis." P. 83, 1581, " Paid to Mr. Coxe "for writin a copie or note owte of the Booke of "Domesdeye xis." P. 140, 1594, "Item, delyvered "Thomas Haywarde to geve to the Players, by “Mr. Baylieff's comandement x s." P. 144, 1595,

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Payed Mr. Paltock that he gave to the Players, "vs." P. 147, 1595, "Item, for viserde for the whip"per, xxii d." P. 187, 1598, "Paid to John ffeome for

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carryenge the gybbete, xii d." P. 195, 1599, "Item, paid for mendynge the wayes when the Queene went "from Wymbleton to Nonesuche, xxi d." P. 198, 1599, "Item, paid for yron boltes and staples for the cockeinge stoole, iii s. iiii d." P. 218, 1601. "Paid "for the exchange of xx 8. for golde, geven to Mr. Attornie for counsell, iiii d." P. 219, 1601, "Paid to "Thomas Hayward, for to paye for the Queenes gloves, "xls." P. 220, 1601, "Paid to Mr. Cockes for the gyfte "to the Queene, iiiil. vid." This is succeeded by the following entry,-"Paid unto the Queenes officers their "ordernarie fees, at the time of our Majesties cominge through the towne, in her state.-Paid unto the serjantes of the armes for theire ffees xx 8. Unto the trumpeter xx 8. To yoman usher vi s. viii d. To the "Gent. ushers.-To the footmen xx 8. To the porters X 8. To lyter men [litter-bearers] vis. viiià. To yomen of the botels vi s. viii d.”

The Book for recording Apprentices of Freemen," a small folio volume containing about 300 leaves of paper, bound in rough calf, like the preceding volumes. Its contents do not seem to have been bound up in regular chronological order; but its earliest date is, apparently, 1563. The earlier part contains some apprenticeship indentures, in full, of Elizabeth's time, together with the yearly accounts of some of the officers of the town. When bound, some blank leaves were probably added, as the latest date is 29th June 1713. For purposes of pedigree the volume is evidently of utility, and it is in fair condition throughout.

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'Book of Bridgewardens' accounts,' No. II., 1568 to 2 James I. (1604); a small folio volume, bound in rough calf, like the preceding volumes. It contains about 80 leaves of paper, more than a third of its original contents having been destroyed by damp.

Accounts of the Companies, in Kingston, of the Woollendrapers, Butchers, Shoemakers, and Mercers, from 1609 to 1690; a small folio volume, bound in rough calf. About one half of each leaf is entirely destroyed by the combined agency of bookworm and damp; and any attempt at repair or restoration of the volume would be hopeless.

The Court Leet Book, 18-22 Henry VIII. a small folio volume, of about 30 leaves of paper, bound in rough calf. It contains the views of frankpledge held in those times, with the names and trades of the then inhabitants of the town, and of its officials. Among the traders, frequently occur "tipilatores," tippling-house keepers.

Common-place Book, 1658 to 15 Charles II. (1663); a folio volume in limp vellum, containing about 500 leaves of paper. Such entries as are in it do not appear to be of any interest or importance.

Book of Rents and Revenues of the Great Bridge of Kingston, 1605 to 1705; a small folio volume, mutilated, and without a cover.

King Edward the Fourth, by his Charter, dated February the 26th 1481, granted to the Bailiffs and freemen of Kingston that they should hold within the town, on Saturday in each week, a Court before the Bailiffs and Stewards of the town, to hear and determine pleas and actions of debt, breach of covenant, and the like, as well as of all other trespasses, whether by force of arms or otherwise, and pleas on distress withheld, and all other personal matters; which Charter was confirmed by grants of Henry VII., in 1495, and other succeeding Sovereigns. The following is a list of the still existing books of the Court of Record so held, down to the beginning of the last century.—

Court-Book from October 18th Henry VII. to December 13th [P16th] Henry VIII.; a large folio volume, bound in rough calf, of about 1680 to 1700, and containing about 500 leaves of paper, remarkable for its stoutness, and in good condition throughout. It contains mostly heads of pleas of debt and trespass; but from time to time sets forth lists of the newly elected officers of the town. Towards the close, in the reign of Henry VIII., occurs the following entry :-" Strayes in the "kepynge of my Lady Norbury. Item, a shep, clene "blak, oner [? one ear] roset, oner white. Item, a blake "colt, in the kepyng xii moneth and a day. Item, a gray mare. Item, an other, yeryne [? iron grey], with a colt. "Item, a bay mare colt. Item, a Walch stere. Item, a browne stere. Item, a blacke calfe. Item, a rede "calfe, with a white face. Item, a white bore. Item, a bay mere and a colt. A white kow. Item, xiiii. yeves [ewes] and wethers, all white." Cries of cattle lost then follow; some of which, written partly in Latin, partly in English, are curious, the following, for example:-"Proclamatio facta apud Kyngeston xxix "die Novembris, anno regni Regis Henrici Octavi

" octavo.-"A blacke horse colte, and a blacke cowe "kawf, of ii yere of age.'

Court-Book, from February 16th Henry VIII. to September 37th Henry VIII.; a small folio volume, containing about 70 leaves of paper, and bound in rough calf; somewhat worm-eaten at the end, and the leaves gnawed by mice at the beginning, at some date before it was placed in its present binding; which, however, at the end, is attacked by the worm. The volume seems

to be filled with nothing but titles of plaints in pleas of debt, account, and trespass; with some few proclamations as to lost property, a heifer, for instance (23 Henry VIII.) being described as coloris browne, cui facies est "alba." The volume contains a great number of names of inhabitants of the town in those times.

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Court-Book, from the 37th Henry VIII. to the 11th Elizabeth; a large folio volume, containing about 400 leaves of paper, in good condition. In addition to the usual heads of pleas, it contains views of frankpledge, including therein informations for nuisances, and plaints against bakers and brewers who have "broken the "assize." In one instance (1 Edward VI.), several men and women are presented as,-" Communes tipla"tores servisiæ [cervisiæ], et non vendunt per ollas et ciphas sigillatas."-"Common tipplers of ale, and "not selling by pots and cups sealed, against the "Statutes, etc." Another provision made, and enunciated in very bad Latin, is to the following effect (tr.): "Be it remembered, that it was ordained and enacted

by the grand jury and the fifteen, with the assent of "all the inhabitants, that no person who keeps any "brewhouse, or public-house, called 'ale-house,' shall " in future allow any persons to play at dice (alias) or any other unlawful games during the times of Matins or of Vespers, upon solemn days or upon any other feast-days, called 'holidaies;' nor at the same times, 44 or upon the same days, shall they serve any one with “ drink there, under the penalty, for every such person, "at each time, of 12 pence."

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Court-Book, 11th of Elizabeth to the 24th year of the same reign; a large folio volume, containing about 500 leaves of stout paper, and bound in limp vellum, with a thong and buckle attached. The padding of the cover is made from two ancient manuscripts, one a fragment of a copy of the Vulgate, a specimen of extremely fine writing: the other, to all appearance, a fragment of a work on ecclesiastical law.

Court-Book, 24th-36th of Elizabeth; a folio volume of about 350 leaves of paper, bound in rough calf; in good condition.

Court-Book, 37th of Elizabeth-4th James I.; a folio volume of about 400 leaves of paper; in good condition.

Court-Book, 4th of James I.-16th James I.; a folio volume containing about 600 leaves of paper, bound in rough calf; generally in fine condition, but slightly damaged by damp at the end.

Court-Book, from about 1631 to 1646; a large folio volume, containing about 550 leaves of paper, without a cover, and wanting a leaf at the beginning, and several probably at the end.

Court-Book, from 1663 to 1670; a large folio volume, containing about 400 leaves of stout paper, bound in rough calf, rather tattered as to binding, but otherwise in good condition.

Court-Book, 25th Charles II. to 1685; a large folio volume of about 400 leaves, but without a cover.

Court-Book, 1692 to 1697; a folio volume of about 200 leaves of paper, imperfect both at beginning and end.

Court-Book, 1703 to 1714; a folio volume, consisting of 564 leaves of vellum.

In addition to these, there are four or five fragments of volumes, without covers, and more or less in a mutilated state. In the chest there were also a considerable number of formal documents, mostly parchments, bearing relation apparently to the above-mentioned Court of Record, of the time, generally speaking, of Elizabeth and James the First, and packed, each year by itself, in a parchment cover, labelled "Ligula,” as belonging to the year of such and such a reign.

Court Leet Book (apparently) 6 Edward VI-1 Mary; a small folio volume, bound in rough calf, and containing about 30 leaves of paper, one half of each of which has perished from damp.

Among the miscellaneous deeds and documents belonging to the town of Kingston, the most interesting probably is the following; to all appearance, an original document, but whether it was ever presented to the Vicar of Kingston who is named in it, or placed before him, it is probably now impossible to say. It is written upon a small sheet of vellum, or parchment, the lower

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part of which is slit into eight or ten thongs, to which it was originally intended, probably, that the seals of all the subscribers to the protest should be attached. ON-THAMES. This however was, no doubt, found to be impossible; and accordingly the only two seals with impressions are those of the Bailiffs, at the commencement of the thong immediately below the writing, the remaining seals attached to that and three or four others of the thongs consisting solely of small dabs of sealing-wax, which still remain attached. The other thongs have no seals whatever attached to them. The document is undated, but its date must have been between 1502 and 1515, as in the former year Nicholas West became Vicar of Kingston, while at the latter date he was appointed Bishop of Ely. The remonstrants, the principal inhabitants of Kingston, at that time, no doubt, are no less than 126 in number; consequently, in the following extract only a selection from the names has been made. "To all maner people these present letters seynteth "redy. gretynge, William Gulsone, Harry "Borar, Baylies of the towne of Kyngestone upon "Thamys, in the counte of Surreye, Swithun Skerne, gentilman, Rasamus [Erasmus] Forde, gentilman, "John Starkey, gentilman, William Forde, John "Jervys, Constabulles of the same towne John "Grovere, Harry Nicoll. . . . John Adolvus "John Coledge, Thomas Tothe. Edmonde Godfray... William Blogge. Richard Clareyenet, "Sandere a Godsolf John Bonare, Richard a "Price Richarde Money, John Ryley. . John a

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"Buttery . William Lytgolde John Polyne, "William Holeys. with the assent and consent of "the hole body of the saide towne and parisshe, sende gretynge in the Lord everlastynge. For as miche as it " is right merytoryous and a charytable dede and grete "rewarde to mannys sowle to witnesse trouth, ther as " for lakke of knowlege therof myght ensue lamentable "hurt, frite, or inconvenience, that Gode defende.-We "therfor, for very instruction of trowth, notifie and "declare that Nicholas West, Doctor, Dean of Wynde

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sor, and Vicar of Kyngestone aforesaide, wrongfuly "hath takyne and dayly taketh and witholde the olde "auncient [P] custume with us, in takynge of mortuarys "othere wyse thanne hath bene takyne and usyde tyme "oute of mynde, to the grete hurte and harmys, and utterly undoynge of the said towne ande parisshe in "time to cume, yf it be sufferyd, as Gode defende. "In witnesse wherof, we the saide parties have sette our sealys, in evydence, and for to wytnesse the [three or four words here entirely effaced]" at Kynge"stone aforesaide."

COUNTY RECORDS OF

Having obtained the requisite permission from his SOMERSET, Lordship the Earl of Cork and Orrery, the Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Somerset, to whom my best thanks are hereby tendered, I cursorily examined, in the month of August last, the County Records preserved at Taunton, in the custody of Edwin Lovell, Esquire, the Clerk of the Peace; but, though aided by the great experience of W. A. Jones, Esq., Secretary to the Archæological Society of the County, to whom, for his kind attentions, I have much pleasure in acknowledging myself greatly indebted, I met with nothing that seemed to me at all likely to repay a detailed examination of them.

The documents themselves appear to be very numerous; many of them, from damp, are in a state of decay. They were removed, about 12 years since, to the new Shire Hall, from the office of the Clerk of the Peace at the old County Gaol. Since that time they have not as yet been re-sorted, according to the classification which they had when kept at the old Gaol.

The "Deeds and other Documents enrolled" begin in the 28th year of the reign of Henry the Eighth. The entries are on long rolls of several membranes, and bear reference solely to the conveyance of lands in the County of Somerset. The first Roll bears date 28-34 Henry the Eighth, and the series comes down to the

COUNTY

year 1828. These enrolments, no doubt, may be of RECORDS OF Considerable utility for pedigree purposes, and in illustration of the topography of the County.

SOMERSET.

STONYHURST COLLEGE.

I also observed a bundle of Commissions of the Peace, belonging to the reigns of James the First and the two Charleses, 1612 being the earliest date.

The Sessions' Rolls begin about the 26th of Elizabeth, and come down to the 40th year of that reign-perhaps later, though I am not aware that such is the case.Sometimes the depositions, as signed by the Magistrates, are added.

The only other documents, which my friend Mr. Jones brought under my notice, were the two following, which he had recently met with.

A Licence, under the Great Seal of England, 17th James J., to Henry Sheppard, of Dunyatt [near Ilminster], for the joint lives of himself, his wife, and his son, and the life of the longest liver, to keep an Inn, or Hostelry, in consideration of a sum of Five Pounds.

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A similar Licence, under the Great Seal of England, 18th James I., to William Bennett, his sons and daughters, empowering them to keep the Inn called the King's Arms," at Wiveliscombe, in the County of Somerset. The Great Seal is perfect in both instances, but the surface of the impression is much flattened, probably by attrition of other documents, as the seals do not seem to have been enclosed in a case.

HENRY THOMAS RILEY.

SECOND AND CONCLUDING NOTICE OF THE MSS. PRESERVED AT STONYHURST COLLEGE.

A volume, in folio, consisting of a collection of letters (original for the most part, with a few contemporaneous copies), drafts, and other papers, relating to the history of the English Catholics from A.D. 1554 to 1594.

These letters are written by Cardinal Pole, Edmund Campion, Robert Persons, Cardinal Allan, Ralph Sherwin, John Decker, John Hart, Henry Walpole, John Bodey, John Mundey, Richard Barrett, Lady Catherine Copley, Mary, Queen of Scots, Christopher Buxton, Robert Morton, John Ingram, Eustace White, Richard Verstegan, F. Pormont, Henry Garnett, F. Holtby, John Mush, John Ingram.

A similar volume, in folio, consisting of letters, chiefly originals, the dates of which range from A.D. 1595 to 1600.

The chief writers are Richard Verstegan, Henry Garnett, John Mush, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Bagshaw, F. Cornelius, William Metcalf, Mr. Wright, Sir Francis Inglefield, Robert Persons, John Worthington, Cardinal Cajetan, Cardinal Borghese, William Weston, Thomas Tichbourne, Robert Barnes, John Colinton, Robert Chambers, Edward Tempest, William Gerarde, F. Bennet, the arch-priest Blackwell, Dr. Bavan, Thomas Benstead, and Mr. Charnock.

A similar volume, in folio, consisting of letters of which the dates extend from A.D. 1601 to 1613.

The principal writers are, F. Oldcorne, Robert Persons, the arch-priest Blackwell, J. Sickelmore, Robert Wilson, Cardinal Borghese, Cardinal Arigoni, John Persons, Mr. Armstrong (alias Sewell), John Sweet, Edward Dawston, John Cecill, John Almond, T. Owen, Anthony Copley, William Creighton, Père Coton, Henry Garnett, Dr. Harrison, F. Blount, Robert Jones, F. Fitzherbert, Andrew White, Robert Ducket, Claudius Aquaviva, Pope Paul V., Lady Southwell, Lewis de la Puente, Michael Walpole, Thomas Talbot, William Baldwin, Oliver Manners, F. Pond, F. Price, F. Pollard, George Birket, F. Coffyn, F. Schondoncus, Thomas Cornforth, Robert Bellarmine, Michael Freeman, Robert Bedford, F. Gerard, Mutius Vittelleschi, Henry Cooper, William Bartlet, and Robert Campian.

A similar volume, in folio, consisting of various letters and papers, dated from 1613 to 1669.

The letters are written by Edward Alacampi, F. Jones, Robert Campian, John Gerard, Henry Silisdon, Henry More, F. Scribanius, William Bishop, Anthony Hoskins, F. Risdon, Francis Young, Thomas Stillington, F. Blount, T. Owen, A. Newburne, John Potter, F. Coffyn, John Morgan, F. Fitzherbert, Christopher Lathom, F. Knott, William Risdon, F. Porte, Henry Morse, Dr. Kellison, F. Stafford, Mutius Vitelleschi, John Bennet, Quintin Haken, Adam Contzen, F. Baldwin, George Wright, Francis Farrington, Thomas Southwell, F. Laymann, Thomas Courtney, Lord Petre, Charles Browne, Edward Courtenay, F. Shelly, George Angier, John Brock, Philip Fisher, Joseph Simeon,

A similar volume, in folio, consisting of various letters and papers, dated from 1641 to 1694.

The principal writers are F. Knott, Francis Berry, Henry More, F. Parker, Henry Holden, Peter Wright, George Ducket, Edward Courtenay, Francis Foster, William Stillington, F. Line, Anthony Hunter, F. Barton, John Stephens, Peter Hobourg, George Gray, Martin Green, Thomas Mumford, Thomas Cary, Nathaniel Southwell, F. Robartes, Charles Norris, Edward Mico (alias Baines), William Ireland, Thomas Whitbread, F. Stapleton, James Smith, Edward Petre, John Warner, John Keynes, Cardinal Howard, John Clare, and John Persall.

A similar volume, in folio, the documents of which it is composed relate to the history of the Catholic religion in Scotland, and range in date from 1610 to 1734.

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The principal letters are from Thomas Abercromby, Patrick Anderson, James Gordon, of Huntley, John Ogilvy, William Creitton, James Moffet, James Gerner, William Lesley, George Christie, William Christie, John Macbrec, Alexander Irving [?] of Whytriggs, "Robertus Valens," John Hume, John Robb, James Macbrec, Thomas Robb, Thomas Abernethy, John Lesley, Andrew Lesley, Hugh Semple, John Smith, "Robertus Gallæus," Alexander Conn, James Forbes, William A. Lesley, Gilbert Inglis, Thomas Paterson, Stephen Maxwell, William Durham, David Fairfull, "Robertus "Fordesius," James Levistone, and Hippolyte Curle.

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A volume, in small 4to, containing the Gospel according to S. John, said to have formerly belonged to S. Cuthbert. It is written upon thin vellum in the 7th century, consisting of 90 leaves. The page is five inches and one-fifth in length by three inches and sixtenths broad; the text is three inches and six-tenths in length by two inches and a half broad. The full page consists of 19 or 20 lines, The binding, in red calf [?]* is covered, on one side, with tooling wonderfully fresh, which exhibits the peculiarities of the interlacing tracery so often seen on Saxon sculptured stones and in Saxon MSS. A few traces of gold are visible within the lines of the tooling. The boards are of oak. The volume is made up of 11 gatherings of vellum, consisting of 8 leaves each, and a twelfth gathering of two leaves.

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On the fly-leaf is the following inscription :-" Evangelium Johannis, quod inventum fuerat ad caput "Beati Patris nostri Cuthberti in sepulchro jacens

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anno translationis ipsius." The same inscription is repeated on the top of fol. 1, where it was written in or about A.D. 1105, but it is now nearly illegible by erasure. This latter inscription is not noticed by Bishop Milner in his account of this Manuscript which he communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, having at that time been covered over by a piece of vellum, which was removed in 1862. A fragment of a Court roll is inserted as a fly-leaf, containinng "Placita curiæ apud Dunelm. in crastino Sancti Oswaldi, anno "Domini, M.cc.lx°. quarto."

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This book having been removed from the coffin of S. Cuthbert in 1105, was preserved in the Cathedral of Durham until the dissolution, when it became the property of the family of Lee, one of whom became Earl of Lichfield in 1674. The Earl gave it to Rev. Tho. Phillips, author of the Life of Cardinal Pole, who presented it, A.D. 1769, to the College of the English Jesuits at Liege,† whence it was transferred in 1794 to its present depository at Stonyhurst.

The text is not divided into chapters or verses, but it is broken into sections. This MS. is mentioned in the article upon the Vulgate, and some of its more remarkable readings are noticed in Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, p. 1713.

Four passages (on ff. 206, 27, 286, and 51) are marked in a Saxon hand in the margin as to be used" pro de"functis."

Along with the manuscript are preserved,(1.) A letter from Rev. John Brand, Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries of London, addressed to Bishop Milner, dated Somerset Place, 6th June 1806, thanking him for permitting the volume to be exhibited.

(2.) A letter from Bishop Milner to the Rev. Marmaduke Stone respecting the exhibition.

(3.) A letter from the Rev. John Lingard to the Rev. Randal Lythgoe, Fishergate, Preston, dated 18th Sept.

Dr. Milner (Archæologia, xvi. 20) thinks that this binding is of the age of Queen Elizabeth.

+"Hunc Evangelii codicem dono accepit ab Henrico comite de Litch"field et dono dedit patribus Societatis Jesu Collegii Anglicani Leodii anno 1769; Rectore ejusdum Collegii Johanne Howard, Thomas Phillips Sac. Can. Non." Inscription in the MS. in the writing of Rev. Tho. Phillips.

1828, on the recent disentombment of S. Cuthbert, and on this manuscript.

In 1806, Dr. Milner contributed to the Archæologia a paper upon this Manuscript, which is printed, vol. xvi., p. 17 of that work.

A large collection of Devotional works, Books of Hours, Breviaries, &c. The following are the more remarkable :

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum, containing 171 ff. (No. 28.)

Heures de Nostre-Dame; the Seven Penitential Psalms; the Office of the Dead, the Fifteen Joys of our Lady, &c.

Every capital in gold and colours; the larger illuminations have been cut out. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum, containing 162 ff. (No. 29.)

The Office of our Lady, &c., Masses of the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin, the Holy Ghost, and of the Dead.

With 14 large illuminations of good French art; the borders contain figures of birds, &c., but some of them have been defaced and injured. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum, consisting of 134 ff. (No. 32.)

The Office of our Lady, &c., the Seven Penitential Psalms, the Office of the Dead, &c.

The Calendar contains the following Obits:

Jan. 23. 'Dominus de Wysthton, co. Northamp., miles," A.D. 1486.

July 17. "Rob. Grene, mil." 13 Edw. IV.
Sept. 13.

"Dominus Johannes Bewchamp, mil., et "domina Anna uxor ejus. Qui quidem Johannes fuit "filius et heres domini Ricardi Bewchamp, mil." A.D 1491.

Oct. 20. "Phelippus Catesby de Stonystretford, co. "Buck., A.D. 1496.

On the reverse of fol. 33 is a shield bearing party per pale, the first or on a chevron gules a crescent argent, a canton ermine; the second argent two lions passant [azure ?], armed and langued of the first.

The church of Whiston, co. Northampton, was built in 1534 by Anthony Catesby, Esq., lord of the manor. Many leaves are wanting, and all the larger illuminations have been cut out. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum, consisting of 178 leaves. (No. 33.)

The office of our Blessed Lady, the Penitential Psalms, the Litany, &c.

Illuminated throughout the margins, and the volume contains 13 miniatures of excellent execution by a French artist. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum, containing 233 ff. (No. 34.)

The office of the Blessed Virgin, the Hours of the Cross and of the Holy Ghost, the office of the Dead, Hymns (in French), Masses of the Holy Trinity, of the Holy Ghost, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Dead, &c.

Ornamented in the margins; but the leaves which were at the beginning of the various Hours have been cut out, having contained illuminations. It is of fair French execution. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 74. (No. 35.) The office of our Lady, &c., with the Psalter. Much injured and defaced. The illuminations (11 in number) are of English execution. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 135. (No. 36.) Hora Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, followed by certain Psalms, Prayers, and Hymns.

Of English execution, and inferior art.

Some leaves

have been cut out. On fol. 8 is the autograph of one of its former owners, "N. Shireburne" [of Stonyhurst]. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 198. (No. 37.) Hora Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Psalmi Pœnitentiales, Officium Defunctorum, &c.

Beautifully written, and ornamented with 21 illuminations of excellent French art. This MS. formerly belonged either to Elizabeth of York (Queen of Henry VII.) or to her mother. On the fly-leaf at the end is the inscription, "Elizabeth Plantaegenet, the quene." The last two words are in paler ink, and have been added at a later period. See Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens of England, iv. 57. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 199. (No. 38.) Hora Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Psalmi, Litaniæ, Officium Mortuorum, &c.

The illuminations, 17 in number, and the borders, &c. are of French art. An inscription on f. 197 records the birth on 23rd May 1487 (or 1488) of Charles, son of Louis, the natural son of the Duke of Bourbon, and

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 95. (No. 42.) Hora Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Salve Regina (paraphrased in verse), Psalmi Pœnitentiales et Graduales, &c., Psalterium, &c.

Of English and inferior execution, and somewhat defaced. On fol. 1 is written "Edmundus Hargatt," 1557. 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 154. (No. 45.) Preces variæ, Missa de sacrosanctis reliquiis, insignis Capellæ Regalis palam Parisiensis, Missa ad evitandam epidimiam quamcumque et mortem subitaneam, &c.

The illuminations, which are 63 in number, are of the highest class of French art. Many of them represent reliquaries and relics in the Royal Chapel in Paris. From these and other indications it is clear that this volume was executed for one of the Royal Family of France. It was written after 1484, as Pope Innocent VIII. is mentioned on fol. 68 b. The binding is old, but not the original. Late 15th century.

A volume, in 8vo, upon vellum. ff. 128. (No. 48.) Heures de la Croix, du Sainct Esprit, de Nostre Dame, &c.

With five large illuminations in an inferior style of French art. 16th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 145. (No. 50.) Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hours and Masses of the Cross, Hours of the Holy Ghost, Psalms, &c. The borders of this MS. are ornamented in gold and colours. 14th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 113. (No. 53.)
Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, &c.

Of French art, miserably mutilated. 15th century.
A volume, in 12mo. ff. 85. (No. 56.)

Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, &c.

Of inferior workmanship, probably German or Flemish. 15th century.

174 ff. (No. 57.)

A volume, in 12mo. Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salve Regina (in verse), Psalter, &c.

The illuminations, seven in number, are of good execution, and apparently of English origin. An inscription on one of the fly-leaves (but of suspicious character) would seem to imply that it had been presented to Cardinal Wolsey by Cardinal Campeggio. 14th or 15th century.

A volume, in 12mo. ff. 73. (No. 59.)

The office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, &c.

The illuminations, 13 in number, are of superior French art. Presented in 1636 to M. Levesque by Claude Mignon. 16th century.

A volume, in 12mo, upon vellum. ff. 194. (No. 60.) Hora Beatæ Mariæ, secundum usum Sarum, &c., Psalterium.

The 19 illuminations which it contains are finely executed. The border of fol. 61 is remarkable, as containing 17 figures represented as on medals or coins. 15th or 16th century.

A volume, in 16mo, upon vellum. ff. 111. (No. 61.) Preces Variæ, Litaniæ, Commendationes animarum, &c.

The Calendar and Litany are remarkable, as mentioning many Welsh saints. 14th century.

A volume, in 16mo, upon vellum. ff. 329. (No. 62.) Officium Beatæ Virginis Mariæ una cum Horis Crucis, &c.

With 12 illuminations of rude art, probably German. 14th century.

A volume, in 16mo, upon vellum. (No. 63.) Cursus Beatæ Virginis Mariæ, Septem Psalmi Pœnitentiales, Litania, &c.

Many of the Prayers are in Flemish. Probably written about 1487.

A volume, in 16mo, upon vellum. (No. 68.) A selection of Psalms and Hymns. 15th century. A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 273. (No. 40.) Breviarum, secundum usum Sarum. 15th century. A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 124. (No. 41.) Missæ de S. Spiritu et de Beata Virgine Maria, Processionale, secundum usum Sarum, &c.

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It includes the ceremonies of the "Episcopus Puerorum (on the eve and feast of the Holy Innocents). ff. 13, 14, 15. 14th or 15th century.

A volume, in 4to, upon vellum. ff. 495. (No. 14.) Breviarium, secundum usum Sarum.

In the Calendar, 30th Oct. (fol. 124b), occurs "Dedi