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of the official letters of Henry Coventry, Ambassador to Sweden, temp. Charles II.; of the letters of Sir John Thynne (Viscount Weymouth), who succeeded him there, and of the letters of Henry Coventry, Ambassador at Breda in 1667. Ten volumes of copies of official letters of Henry Coventry, Secretary of State, 1672-1680. The original correspondence at Longleat is very numerous and important, several hundred original official letters to Matthew Prior, and many by persons not in office, such as Swift and Atterbury. Several volumes of copies of letters by Prior. Numerous original papers and copies of papers relating to the Treaty of Ryswick. Some of Prior's prose and poetry. One of the letters to Prior narrates the occasion of Dryden's writing the well-known three caustic lines on Jacob Tonson. One from the Bishop of Galloway tells how he had served King James, but after ten years' reflection wished to return and perform his duty as an honest man and loyal subject. Robert Sanderson, who assisted Rymer in the publication of the "Foedera," in 1702, asks for employment, he being out of business by reason that Rymer was out of the work. There are copies of numerous letters by Robert Harley, by the Duke of Marlborough, and many original letters to him by other persons; original letters to Earl Rivers by Marlborough, Halifax, Godolphin, and other statesmen of the period. Letters to the Duchess of Portland by Elizabeth Montague and Elizabeth Robinson; and a copy of a long account of the defence of Bramton Castle, co. Hereford, by Lady Brilliana Harley in 1643 and 1644. A long letter by Thomas Cromwell to Sir John Wallop, our ambassador in France, directing him how to justify the King in the matter of the divorce and the execution of Sir Thomas More. A contemporary copy of Katharine Howard's confession, signed by the Duke of Norfolk and others; a letter by John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, concerning a picture of Lady Isabel, a daughter of the King of France, which had been sent to King Edward VI., on proposals for a marriage between them; nine letters by Cranmer to Sir W. Cecil; several original letters by Sir Walter Ralegh. Letters by Parker and Whitgift, Archbishops of Canterbury, Charles I. and Charles II., Lord Chancellor Hatton, Bodley, Coke, and other public men of the reign of Elizabeth. In the 17th century are letters by the Earl of Salisbury, John Donne, Sir Edward Cecyll, Sir H. Wotton, and Lord Bacon; a list of the superb jewels which Prince Charles gave away on leaving Spain; and two original letters by Steenie (the slave and dog) to his dear dad and gossip King James I. There are also numerous letters by Pope, several by Swift and Arbuthnot, and a letter by Thomas Hearne about Chaucer and the editions of his works; letters by Locke, Gibbon, and Lady Mary Wortley Montague. In the Muniment room is an early copy of the Laws of Oleron (Coutumes de la Mer), Royal Wardrobe and other accounts, temp. Henry VI., Henry VII., and Henry VIII.; accounts of Henry Fitzroy (natural son of Henry VIII.); a singular letter from an astrologer to Sir John Hawkwood in the 14th century. Original will of Sir Henry Sidney in 1575; two letters by Sir Philip Sidney; and an original will (but not the last) of the Earl of Leicester in 1581. Rentals and registers of estates and accounts of Edward Stafford, the great Duke of Buckingham, temp. Henry VIII. Accounts of the De Veres in the 14th and 16th centuries; and a mass of papers relating to Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, many of them about the expedition into Scotland, including correspondence with Sir Thomas Wharton and others, which it would be desirable fully to examine with a view to a calendar of them; many papers about Calais, temp. Henry VIII.; a few papers about the interview between Henry VIII. and Francis I. Letters by Bishops Jewell and Ken. Here also is an account-book of Arabella Stuart before her marriage: on the last leaf is a note of her marriage, with the date and the names of the witnesses. (This leaf was pasted down to the cover until Canon Jackson, suspecting writing underneath, lifted it and revealed the secret.) There are numerous documents relating to Walter and Robert Devereux, Earls of Essex; and many relating to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and numerous letters to him, including letters by Anthony Forster and Richard Verney. A deed of settlement is at Longleat on the contemplated marriage between Dudley and Amye Robsart, celebrated in the reign of Edward VI., and a letter by " Amye Duddeley" to her tailor about a dress. The muniment room contains numerous ancient deeds and rolls of Glastonbury Abbey, and some letters of public interest by Henry VIII.; and one by Queen Mary, directing Sir John Thynne to attend and entertain King Philip when he came into Wiltshire. The Coventry Papers, at present unarranged, to which allusion is made in the Report in the Appendix, will, if the Marquis of Bath give his consent, form the subject of a future report.

The Manuscripts of the Duke of Devonshire at Bolton Abbey and Hardwicke Hall were examined by Mr. Horwood, and his Reports will be found in the Appendix, p. 36, and p. 41. The long series of Household Books of the 16th and 17th centuries abound in valuable information. We learn from these sources that as early as 1638 King

Charles I. had a difficulty in getting supplies of guns and pistols from the regular sources; as a letter of that year by the Earl of Arundel is to the effect that country smiths were to make them, "altho' they be but homely work." The same writer says that the King trusted most to his Cavalry. In August and September 1648 we have notices of the battle in the North, between the King's forces and the Rebels. The name of Sir John Finett, Master of the Ceremonies to James I. and Charles I., is well known from his book touching the Reception, &c. of Foreign Ambassadors; and we have a letter from him which tells of a pleasant retort made by a Scotch nobleman to King James I. on a remark touching the presumed success of the business of the Spanish Match. Amongst his Grace's MSS. at Hardwicke is a letter, temp. Eliz., full of interest, it notices the disgrace of Lord Buckhurst (by reason of his unfavourable account of Leicester's proceedings in the Low Countries); tells of Sir Walter Ralegh's politic conduct at Court; of Arabella Stuart's visit to Court, and of the Queen's reserved, and Burghley's cordial behaviour to her, when he lauded her accomplishments in French, Italian, music, writing, and dancing, and wished she were 15 years old, "and with that rounded Mr. Rawley in the eare, who answered him it would be a happy thing." The Philosopher Hobbes lived for some time at Chatsworth, and some of his papers are at Hardwicke.

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In the collection of the Marquis of Westminster (Appendix, p. 210) is a 15th century copy of W. Longland's "Verses of Piers Plowman," which seems to differ in its arrangement from the copies consulted for the last edition. The Manuscript of Henry of Huntingdon's Chronicle is a very fine one, and contains a contemporary (12th century) drawing of Baldwin FitzGilbert preparing to harangue the Royal army before the battle of Lincoln, by order of King Stephen. Among the paper MSS. are copies of an account of Sir Robert Cecil's negotiations with France in 1597, and a very interesting narrative, by way of diary, of Sir Thomas Wilkes's Embassy to France, 1598. Sir W. Monson's treatise gives an account of the actions between the Spanish and English ships between 1588 and 1603. Here also is a letter by Williams, Bishop of Lincoln (afterwards Archbishop of York) with regard to the position of the Communion Table, and the position of the Minister. The tract called Cicell's Commonwealth, and the two tracts following, may be likewise found in one volume in the Marquis of Lothian's collection. (See Appendix to 1st Report.) The long poem called "The World turned upside down," is of the time of James I. or Charles I., and is described "as a satire on and abuse of all classes and conditions, practices, " and sports, &c." In the English translation (hitherto unnoticed) of the once famous comedy of "Ignoramus" the names of the actors and actresses (A.D. 1662) are given. In other volumes of this collection there are numerous treatises and papers (some published and many unpublished) which illustrate the history of this country. Among the charters is a document, viz., Letters Patent appointing Cardinal Wolsey to be Chancellor for life. The charters to Reading Abbey, although of great interest, need only be here referred to; because they have been already described in the Archæological Journal, by Mr. Albert Way.

Earl Delawarr possesses a Manuscript of "The History of Whitelocke's Embassy to "Sweden" in 1653, varying from the printed copy, and a copy of Whitelocke's Annals of his own life. The diplomatic papers of Sir Charles (afterwards Lord) Whitworth occupying the first quarter of the 18th century are also in his Lordship's possession. A brief notice of the contents, and of Whitworth's various correspondents are given in Mr. Horwood's Report (Appendix, p. 217).

Earl Fortescue has allowed your Commissioners to print (Appendix, p. 220) some letters by Frederic Prince of Wales (father of George III.) to Lord Clinton, showing the keen interest which he took in election contests, even to the large disbursement of money; and a note showing Pitt's sentiments towards Lord Grenville on the fall of Addington in 1804; also a letter showing (if more proof were needed) the determined opposition of George III. to concessions to the Roman Catholics.

The very extensive correspondence of Thomas, Duke of Newcastle, in the last century, in the possession of the Earl of Chichester, has been inspected by Mr. Horwood (Appendix, p. 221). It must contain most valuable information for the history of this country, its political parties, and its foreign relations.

The Earl of Effingham's deeds give information regarding the early possession of the Abbeys of Roche and Kirkstead. (Appendix, p. 223.)

The Earl of Devon possesses a book of Expenses of the Earl of Devon, temp. Hen. VIII.; a manuscript account of the Courtenay family, by Sir Peter Balle (A.D. 1625); and a large and beautifully executed pedigree of the Courtenays, also by Sir Peter Balle. (Appendix, p. 216.)

It is well known that the late Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., purchased the large collection known as the Battle Abbey Charters, once the property of Sir Godfrey Webster. But he did not acquire some of the earliest, for among the muniments of Viscount Gage (Appendix, p. 223) are some grants in the 11th and 12th centuries to Battle Abbey. His Lordship has also a copy of an inquisition regarding Cardinal Wolsey's possessions, 22 Hen. VIII.; and of another regarding the possessions of Bayham Abbey.

Lord Wharncliffe possesses four letters under the sign manual of King Henry VII., and large collections for the history of the family of Wortley. Mr. Horwood's report is printed in the Appendix, p. 224.

Penshurst contains a very large mass of valuable materials for political and social history (Appendix, p. 227). Here is a record of the fact that Philip (afterwards Sir Philip) Sidney at the early age of 10 years, held church preferment; here are also bonds (cancelled because paid off) for money borrowed by him at home and abroad; an unpublished comedy by Abraham Fraunce; numerous papers relating to Ireland and Wales, under the governorship of Sir Henry Sidney, temp. Elizabeth, and many volumes of letters to the Sidneys in the 16th and 17th centuries, not used by Collins, but which contain most interesting matter; household books, inventories, bills and receipts of the 16th and 17th centuries, and more than four hundred early charters to the Abbey of Robertsbridge, co. Sussex. The seals to some of these are very interesting. These charters Lord de Lisle has, at Mr. Horwood's instance, entrusted to a gentleman who has kindly volunteered to make a full Calendar of them.

Sir Henry Bedingfeld's collection of letters of the time of Queen Mary is valuable, as showing the names and treatment of prisoners (some hitherto unnoticed) in the Tower of London (Appendix, p. 237).

Sir C. Bunbury has a large portion of the Cellarer's register of the great Abbey of Bury St. Edmund's (App., p. 240); Reports of cases in the Star Chamber, temp. Eliz. and James I.; a very large and important collection of original letters of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The other portion of the register is in the public library of the University of Cambridge and fully calendared in the printed Catalogue.

The Rev. Sir William Cope's library is very noticeable for the splendid Evangeliarium, between eight and nine hundred years old; some chronicles of the Augustine Order in England; a copy of Nigel Wireker's Speculum Stultorum; and a long English religious poem on the life and Passion of Christ, apparently unpublished, written about A.D. 1500. There are also ancient volumes from the Abbeys of Waverley and Wytham and the monastery of Winchelcombe; and an English sermon by Wiclif or one of his followers; Commentaries on the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark, by Sir Anthony Cope, temp. Ed. VI. (App., p. 242).

Sir Edmund Filmer possesses some MSS. by Sir Thomas Raymond, a judge in the last century; they are noticed in the App., p. 246.

Among Sir Gerald Fitzgerald's documents, reported on by Mr. Horwood (App., p. 246), is the original foundation deed of Cokersand Abbey, and two decrces of divorce, temp. Henry VIII., the parties having been of tender age.

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Sir W. Ffolkes has a valuable Town Book of Lynn, temp. Henry VI. The entries in this throw much light on the town and its trade and internal economy. original letter by Oliver Cromwell; numerous papers by and letters to Sir Martin Ffolkes, formerly President of the Royal Society, and numerous letters by foreign savants in the last century (App., p. 247).

Sir Thomas Hare has the originals of the printed correspondence of Henry Viscount Bolingbroke; an (apparently) original charter by William the Conqueror, with a long list of officials and ecclesiastical dignitaries for witnesses; a register of Marham Abbey, and a register of Ramsey Abbey, and some curious early wills. These papers are fully described by Mr. Horwood in his Report (App., p. 250).

In Sir John Lawson's collection (App., p. 255) is an early copy of the life of St. Cuthbert, and original letters by the unfortunate Charles Edward Stuart and the Duke of Perth in 1745.

The Rev. F. Hopkinson's collection (App., p. 261) is large and valuable. Here is an account of jewels given away by Edward II. Also a long list of Wolsey's household; a report (seemingly unknown) on the proposed match between Queen Elizabeth and Charles IX.; the Diets for the Star Chamber, temp. Elizabeth; a letter from Sir Edward Conway about the Spanish Match; orders about Charles the First's wearing apparel, and his apothecary's bill; a letter by John Locke to M. Toinard, partly in Latin and partly in French, and letters by and relating to the young Pretender.

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Lieut.-Colonel King has some original MSS. of Dr. William King (Archbishop of Dublin) towards the end of the 17th century (App., p. 416).

Mr. Lee, of Redbrook House, forwarded his Papers to Your Commissioners for inspection they include Reports of Law Cases before the Justices of the Common Pleas at Westminster (Year Books), temp. Edward III., and before the Justices in Eyre in the same reign. (App., p. 267.)

Mr. Legh, of Lyme, possesses an original Papal Bull, dated 1437, annexing certain revenues to Magdalen College, Oxford; an early copy in a vellum roll of the alliterative poem called the Scottish Field, printed for the second time by the Early English Text Society from the Percy folio; News letters, temp. Charles II., including three by Richard Sterne, probably a son of the Archbishop of York. There are notices of the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion in 1682, and of his invasion in 1685. The poem on the Duke of Monmouth, is printed in The State Poems. Mr. Horwood's Report is printed at p. 268 of the Appendix.

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In the muniment room of Mr. Le Strange, of Hunstanton, are valuable household accounts of the 14th, 16th, and 17th centuries, some churchwarden's accounts for the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries; and letters from the 15th to 18th century; the letters of 1714 are particularly interesting as relating to a notorious book then published, intituled "The Hereditary Right of the Crown of England." It is supposed that the Rev. Mr. Harbin was the author of the work, and that Bedford suffered rather than betray his friend. In this collection there is a letter by King Henry VII.; and a letter describing how the King (Edw. IV.) "restored the Countess of Warwick to her "inheritance, which she gave to my Lord of Gloucester, with whom she was, and of that "divers folk marvel greatly." From another letter here it seems that Sir Cloudesley Shovel was drowned in the sands where he had gone with some friends in a pinnace to view some curiosity. (App., p. 271.)

The Marquis of Northampton's magnificent volume of the Genealogy of the Family of Howard, which was kindly brought to the notice of Your Commissioners by Mr. J. E. Martin, Librarian of the Inner Temple, is described at p. 209 of the Appendix. It was executed in 1638 for Thomas, Earl of Arundel, by Lilly, Rouge Dragon. More than a hundred shields with quarterings in their proper colours, heightened with gold of the finest execution, illustrate a pedigree then covering between 600 and 700

years.

The Neville Charter Chest (App., p. 277) has contributed some letters containing foreign and domestic news by Count Gastaldi, an agent in England of the Genoese Republic in 1743 and the following years; nearly all were written from London. The Roll of Charges, in English, against the Duke of Suffolk, temp. King Henry VI., was referred to in a previous Report, and is now printed at length in the Appendix, p. 279. It states facts, and shows the popular opinion with regard to the Duke's moral and political character.

The Rev. Walter Sneyd's collection, which was examined by Mr. Horwood (App., p. 287), contributes holograph letters by Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, James I., and Charles I. and his Queen, Charles II., James II., and his son James, William III., the Duke of Marlborough, and other remarkable persons. It has besides letters of foreign Sovereigns; early English and French MSS.; and Italian relazioni d'Inghilterra. Mr. Sneyd possesses a 15th century copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels also a treatise on Respiration and one on the Preservation of the Eyesight, both of the 16th century. In the early part of the reign of Elizabeth a Venetian gentleman, named Alessandro Magno, came to England in the course of his travels; Mr. Sneyd has the diary of his travels, where his visit to England is noticed; he went to Windsor, and among the sketches which he made in the volume is one of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Mr. Egerton Warburton's collection (App., p. 290) comprises letters by many celebrated literary men of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries; specially noticeable are those by Hobbes, Cowper, and Coleridge.

Among Mr. Marsh's documents (App., p. 274) are papers and deeds which will be found useful for the history of the Manor of Theydon Gernon, co. Essex. Papers in the Chancery suit, temp. Henry VI.; a specimen (not common) of a grant in 1477 of Confraternity in the Order of Trinitarians for the Redemption of Christian Captives in the Holy Land; and an interesting letter, temp. Henry VII.

Mr. G. F. Wilbraham (App., p. 292) has, amongst other items, an account of a Tour in France in 1614, by one who accompanied our Ambassador; and an account of another journey in France made apparently in the early part of the reign of King Charles I.

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The numerous volumes belonging to Mr. Wilson, of Eshton-Hall, were nearly all compiled by Mr. Hopkinson, in the 17th century; and notes of the contents of these volumes are given at p. 293 of the Appendix. They contain valuable collections for Yorkshire, transcripts of many of the old Talbot Letters found at Sheffield Castle (now in the College of Arms), and many genealogies of Northern families. There are also poems, letters, and treatises, relating to the history of England in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries; among them is an elegant poem on Secretary Davison, numerous Carols and Cavalier songs, and a poem on the burning of the Globe Theatre, where mention is made of Heminges. Another poem is by James I., on the Prince and Buckingham going to Spain, and another on the death of his Queen. Among the letters are upwards of twenty by the celebrated Roger Ascham; and some by Sir Walter Ralegh, one of which seems to be unpublished.

The few Papers contributed by Miss Othen (App., p. 277) were found in the chimney of an old house at Midhurst, in the county of Sussex. The news letter may be placed in the year 1636, or soon afterwards.

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A Calendar of Phelips' MSS. (briefly described at p. 57 of the Appendix to the First Report of Your Majesty's Commissioners) is at p. 281 of the Appendix to the present Report. Copies of all the documents connected with the Powder Plot have been deposited in the Public Record Office. Among the papers on the Low Countries, temp. Elizabeth, are two drafts in Thos. Bodley's handwriting, and an original Council letter to him giving directions for his conduct. The "Spanish Match," for which the Prince and Buckingham made the expedition which King James thought worthy of being put into new romanso," is here illustrated by original letters from Sir Robert Phelips, Sir Francis Cottington, and James Wadesworth, and a list of the Prince's attendants (Archie Armstrong among them); and a long essay (but imperfect) on the proposed match by Sir Robert Phelips. There are also drafts and copies of letters and news letters relating to the Palatinate and the wars there in the times of James and Charles I., notes by Sir Robert Phelips of proceedings in the House of Lords against the Earl of Bristol; and of the evidence against Lord Bacon; and an original letter which states that the King said if the charges were proved he would hang him, and that the Prince exasperated the King against him, besides other interesting matters.

Sir Charles Isham's collection (p. 252) is rich in Heralds Visitations (originals and copies) for the counties of Berks, Bucks, Leicester, and Northampton, by W. Harvey, Sampson Lennard, Richard Lee, Augustine Vincent, and Gregory King. One of the volumes is by Ralph Brooke. There are collections for the History of Nottingham; copy of part of a Tewkesbury Abbatial Register, containing early historical matters; and a short 17th century Chronicle of events at Worcester from a much earlier time: some early papal bulls to monasteries, a Spanish roll containing a short account of the American discoveries of Columbus; many letters from Venice and Turin in 1623 and 1624, some addressed to Dudley Carleton; copy of a letter by Cromwell, two original letters by Dugdale, (but not on antiquarian matters,) and several letters in 1660 and later by Brian Duppa, Bishop of Winchester. In one of these he mentions the death of Selden; in another he tells of the death of Dr. Harvey, and how he used to fast two days together; how (Sir Theodore) Mayerne, who died at the age of 80, was more than liberal in his diet; and that Listers was not abstemious, and died at the age of 87. Sir Charles Isham also possesses a large 14th century volume of Year Books, containing Reports of Cases in the Common Pleas and before the Justices in Eyre, temp. Edw. III.

Of the manuscripts of Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton (p. 244), those in volumes have been printed. The letters are many, chiefly of local interest. The early deeds are very valuable as supplying the names of Justiciaries, Mayors, Sheriffs and other officers of the county and city of Chester.

Sir Henry Gunning's collection (p. 248), is exclusively diplomatic, consisting of the official correspondence of Walter Titley and Mr. (afterwards Sir) Robert Gunning; the former was Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Denmark, from 1728 to 1736, and the latter held the same position at the Courts of Denmark, Berlin, and St. Petersburgh, from 1766 to 1774. The names of their respective correspondents are given in the Appendix. In 1772 are two long letters telling of the revolution at Stockholm, and of the Danish King's extraordinary conduct in the Assembly at Copenhagen. "He made "them swear to articles which gave him absolute power; he pulled out a psalm book "and sung the Te Deum, in which the Assembly joined."

Mr. Whitehall Dod has a fine copy, on vellum, of Wiclif's translation of the Old Testament and Apocrypha; letters of news by Col. Thos. Davies, temp. Charles I., giving court, home, and foreign news; and an original unpublished letter by Barnaby Fitzpatrick, at Paris, to Edward VI., in answer to one of the letters by the King to that

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