Add MS 39925

THE VISITATION of the Countie of Chester made by William Flower, Esquire, alias Norroy Kinge of Armes, hauinge with him Robert Cooke alias Chester heralde his Mareschall: Anno Domini 1566," (with additions). ff. 32-164. An index at f. 30. Arms in trick. Mostly in a late 16th cent. hand (latest date 1583), but many additions in an early 17th cent. hand (latest date 1623). Preceded (f. 1) by accompts of a subsidy granted to Arthur, late Prince of Wales, within the county of Chester for the term of St. Martin, 1502, in an early 17th cent. hand; and (f. 4) by a " collection of the Mayors who haue governed the Citty of Chester and the tyme when they gouerned the same ... by William Aldersey a Citizen hereof Anno Domini 1594," in another early 17th cent. hand (last date 1634). The latter is a list of mayors and sheriffs, etc., with notes of events, including several allusions to the Chester Plays at various dates from 1499 to 1574, see ff. 18, 20, 20 b, and information about the despatch of troops to Ireland. The birth, 15 Dec. 1543, marriage, 22 Dec. 1578, and death, 26 Oct. 1616 (ff. 19 b, 21, 27 b), of William Aldersey, " collector of this booke," are noted. The introduction (f. 5) bears the name of Fulk Aldersey, mayor in 1594, a cousin of William Aldersey , the compiler, who was mayor in 1595. A copy of this chronicle was in 1891 in the hands of Hugh Aldersey of the Crook, Aldersey, and is described in the Cheshire Sheaf, New Series, vol. 1 , 120, 123, 126, 156 by J. P. Earwaker. Another copy (omitting the list of mayors, etc.) is in Add. MS. 29780, f 93. For particulars relating to the Alderseys and William Aldersey, the antiquary, see The Family of Aldersey by C. G. O. Bridgeman, 1899. At f. 166 b is " A order of precedency of estates and " The order of the goinge of the estates to Westmaster at the Coronation of Kinge Ed. y^e 6 one Saturday y^e 19th of February (sic) 1546[7], but was not crowned till the next day." Paper; ff. ii + 167. 13 in. x 8 1/2 in. Belonged to John Hurlestone Leche of Carden Park in Til Ston, co. Chest. (signature on f. 1).