Add MS 11600

This is a scribal collection which contains political news and sexual scandal, correspondence, speeches, tracts and verse satire. The content is largely early 17th-century, with some Elizabethan material. It also contains a collection of papers recording the diplomacy of Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520s (ff. 165r-265r).

The volume is the product of a number of early 17th-century scribal hands. There is occasional evidence of the work of two scribes of the period on one manuscript, one copying the main text, the other marking up emendations. Such is the case of ff. 44r-56r, 'An Answer to a Pamphlet slandering Queen Elizabeth' (actually a title provided much later). To the main scribe's text, another has noted not just individual words but incorporated missing phrases which are presumably drawn from another version of the text.

The volume seems to have been written at much the same time, from the same paper stock, and with different items on shared folios. The late 1620s or a little later seems the most plausible date. The latest dated or datable entries are 1628; Thomas Randolph's verse satire 'The Peddler' has been dated to Nov 1627 and the copies of letters of Francis Bacon probably dates after his death in 1626.

The database 'Manuscript Pamphleteering in Early Stuart England', www.mpese.ac.uk [accessed 11 Dec 2019], includes a number of items from this volume, both providing transcriptions and cross-references to other copies of the items.

The volume starts both from the front (ff. 1-265r) and - the other way up - from the back (ff. 287r-265v), with separate contents pages and original pagination for both. The back section is wholly letters and tracts written by Sir Charles Cornwallis.

Contents:

f. 1r: Jottings, including words, phrases and apparent names of early owners.

f. 2r: Latin phrase: 'Femina quaeque mula est. sed si bona contigit ulla / nescio quo fata, res mala facta bona est.'

ff. 3r-v: Table of contents (for what is now ff. 4r-265r).

ff. 4r-9v: [Thomas Randolph, ] 'The Peddler' [c. 1627]. On the contents page, 'a hum’rous performance of a Cantabrigian signed Th: R'. This is dated in one manuscript to All Saints' Day, 1627.

ff. 10r-21r: The Proceedings which Happened Touching the Divorcement between the Lady Frances Howard and Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex [c. 1615]. This includes the speech of George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury (ff. 11v-12r); the answer of King James I (ff. 12r-15r); the oath of Lady Frances Howard that the earl of Essex has had no carnal knowledge of her (f. 15v); and the prosecution of those accused of being Lady Frances Howard's accomplices in the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury (ff. 15v-21r).

ff. 21r-22r: Speech of Sir Walter Raleigh at his beheading, 27 [actually 29] Oct 1618.

ff. 22r-v: Letter of Sir Walter Ralegh to King James I before his trial, [1603].

ff22v-35r: 'Sr Robert Cottons speech 1628./ Against recusants in defence of the oath of allegiance or execucions of consideration of repressing of the increase of Papists'. Elsewhere this speech 'On the Suppression of Jesuits'. is dated to 11 Aug 1613.

ff. 35r-43r: [Sir Walter Cope,] 'An Apologie vppon the death of Sr Robert Cecill Knight Lord Treasurer of England writen against his Libellers and presented to Kinge James. / Il di loda la sera. /' 1612]

ff. 44r-56r: An answer to a slander against Queen Elizabeth [c. 1600?].

ff. 56v-64v: Defence of Charles Blount, Earl of Devonshire, of his marriage with Lady Penelope Rich [1606].

ff. 65r-72v: A brief consideration of the two kingdoms in the hands of one King. n.d. [after 1603].

f.73r: Letter of Francis Bacon to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burleigh, Lord Treasurer, in excuse of his speech in Parliament against the treble Subsidy [1593].

ff. 73r-74r: Letter of Francis Bacon to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burleigh, Lord Treasurer, recommending his first suit touching the Solicitor-General's place, 5 Jun 1595.

f. 74r: Letter of ceremony of Francis Bacon to Queen Elizabeth I upon sending of a New Year's Gift.

f. 74r: Letter of ceremony of Francis Bacon to Queen Elizabeth I upon sending of a New Year's Gift.

ff. 74v-75r: Letter of advice of Francis Bacon to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, to take upon him the cause of Irish causes, made when Sir Robert Cecil was in France [i.e. early 1598].

ff. 75r-76r: Letter of advice of Francis Bacon to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, upon the first treaty with Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, 1598, before Essex was nominated for the charge of Ireland.

ff. 76v-78r: Letter of advice of Francis Bacon to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, immediately before Essex's going into Ireland, [1599].

ff.78r-v: Letter of Francis Bacon to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, offering his service when Essex was first enlarged to Essex House [i.e after 20 Mar 1600].

ff. 78v-81r: Two letters framed, the one as from Mr Anthony Bacon to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex; the other as Essex's answer to it delivered to Francis Bacon; with the advice and answer, with the Earl's privity, to be showed to Queen Elizabeth I upon some fit occasion as a means to work her to receive the Earl again to favour and attendance at Court. They were devised whilst Essex remained prisoner in his own house [1600].

ff. 81r-84v: A letter of Francis Bacon to Sir Robert Cecil after the defeat of the Spanish forces in Ireland, inciting him to embrace 'the Case of reducing that Kingdome to civility', with some reasons sent enclosed.[1602].

f. 85r: A letter of recommendation of Francis Bacon to Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, shortly before the death of Queen Elizabeth I, [early 1603]. The text says that the letter is to [Henry Percy, 9th] Earl of Northumberland, corrected in the margin to Northampton (who at that point was Lord Henry Howard).

ff. 85-86r: A letter of service by Francis Bacon to King James I upon his first coming, [1603].

f. 86r: Letter of Francis Bacon to David Foulis upon the entrance of King James I's reign, Gray's Inn, 25 Mar 1603. If the scribe's date is accurate, this is the day after Elizabeth I's death.

ff. 86v-87r: A letter commending his love and occasions to Sir Thomas Chaloner, then in Scotland, upon the entrance of King James I, [1603].

ff. 87v-88r: Letter of Francis Bacon to Robert Kemsey [?] upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I, [1603]. The scribe originally wrote the name as 'Kemp' and 'Kempe', changed by an amending scribe. Kemsey is the best, uncertain, reading.

ff. 88r-v: Letter of Francis Bacon to Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, upon King James I coming in, [1603].

ff. 88r-89v: Letter of Francis Bacon to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, after Bacon had been with the King, [1603].

f. 89r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, upon sending him one of his books of The Advancement of Learning, [1605].

f. 89r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Thomas Sackville, Baron Buckhurst, Lord Treasurer, on the like matter [upon sending him one of his books of The Advancement of Learning], [1605].

f. 89v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor, on the like matter [upon sending him one of his books of The Advancement of Learning], [1605].

f. 89v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, on the like matter [upon sending him one of his books of The Advancement of Learning], with a request for Northampton to present the book to King James I [1605].

f. 90r: Letter of expostulation by Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Edward Coke, Attorney-General, [before Jun 1606].

ff. 90r-v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Robert Cecil touching the place of Solicitor-General, [1606-1607].

ff. 90v-91r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor, touching the like argument [the Solicitor-General's place], [1607].

ff. 91r-92r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to King James I, touching the place of Solicitor-General, [1606-1607].

ff. 92r-93r: Letter of request of Sir Francis Bacon to Dr Thomas Plaifer [d. 1609] to translate into Latin his book The Advancement of Learning.

f. 93r: A letter of courtesy from Sir Francis Bacon to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, on New Year's Tide.

ff. 93r-v: A letter of expostulation from Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Vincent Skinner.

ff. 93v-94r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Sir John Davies, Attorney-General in Ireland, [1606 or after]. The scribe calls him 'Mr Davis'.

ff. 94r-v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Mr Murray of the King's Bedchamber.

f. 94v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Lady 'Pagenton' [Dorothy, Lady Pakington, Bacon's mother-in-law] in reply to a letter sent by her.

ff. 94v-95r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Tobie Matthew, imprisoned for religion [1607-1608]

f. 95r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Tobie Matthew upon Bacon sending him a copy of his De Sapientia veterum, Gray's Inn, 17 Feb 1611. Matthew had written to Bacon from Salamanca.

ff. 95v-96r: Letter from Sir Francis Bacon to Tobie Matthew sending him part of Instauratio Magnae, Gray's Inn, 10 Oct 1609.

ff. 96r-v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Tobie Mathew touching Instauratio Magnae and other arguments.

f. 97r: Letter of thanks of Sir Francis Bacon to King James I upon the sickness of the Attorney-General. The promise of the reversion.

ff. 97r-v: Letter of suit of Sir Francis Bacon to King James I to receive the Attorney-General's place.

ff. 97v-98r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to King James I upon presenting his discourse concerning the plantation of Ireland, [1608-1609]. according to ODNB presented to James as a New Year's Gift, 1609.

ff. 98r-v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to martin Heton [?], Bishop of Ely upon sending his writing entitled 'Cogitata et Vita [i.e Visa]', [1607?].

f. 98v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley after he had imparted to Sir Thomas a writing entitled 'Cogitata et Visa', [1607?].

f. 99r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley upon sending him his book The Advancement of Learning.

ff. 99r-v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Carew, Ambassador in France, upon sending him his writing 'in felicem memoriam Elizabethæ', [1608-1609].

ff. 99v-100r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Mayor of London upon a private cause.

ff. 100r-101v: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor touching the History of Britain [1610?].

ff. 101v-102r: Letter of Sir Francis Bacon to King James I upon his sending him the beginning of his history of his time [1610?]

ff. 102r-106r: Sir Robert Cotton, The danger wherein the Kingdom now standeth and the remedy (1628).

ff. 106r-129v: A offer made by the Archdukes and accepted by the States [the Dutch Republic] in April 1607.

ff. 130r-136v: Letter to Queen Elizabeth I opposing her withdrawal from the Low Countries.

ff. 136v-138r: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Nicholas Bacon , Lord Keeper, 20 Nov 1577.

ff. 138v-139v: Letter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, to Sir Francis Walsingham, Ambassador in Flanders, 24 Jul 1578.

ff. 139v-142v: Reasons against the intended incorporation in Westminster [?1607].

ff. 143r-164v: Speeches and arguments made at a conference with the Lords on the liberty of the subject, [3, 7 Apr 1628]:

• ff. 143r-144r: Introduction by Sir Dudley Digges upon the conference with the Lords comcerning the liberty and freedom of the persons of the subjects and the property of their goods.
• ff. 144r-149v: [Sir Edward Littleton,] An argument made by the House of Commons's command at their first conference with the Lords concerning the liberty of the person of every freeman.
• ff. 150r-161r: A second by Mr John Selden.
• ff. 161r-163r: [Arguments of] Sir Edward Coke, Thursday 3 Apr 1628.
• ff. 163r-164v: Obiections with their Answers upon Conference with the Lords, the objections were made by the King's Attorney.

ff. 165r-169v: Copy of the letter of the Lord Legate [Thomas Wolsey] letter to the king's orators of Rome, 25 Mar [1524?] . Note also marginal historical comments, f. 166r.

ff. 169v-171v: Letter of King Henry VIII to John Clerk, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Ambassador in Rome. With marginal historical comment, f. 169v.

ff. 171v-174v: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Richard Sampson and Mr Farmingham [recte Sir Richard Jerningham?] residing with the Emperor, Westminster 6 Nov. With historical gloss, f. 172v.

ff. 174v-180r: My Lord Legate's [Thomas Wolsey's] letters to the Ambassador in Rome upon the election of the Pope.

ff. 180r-195v: Letter of the Lord Legate [Thomas Wolsey] to John Clerk, Bishop of Bath and Wells. With historical gloss, f. 187r.

ff. 195v-199r: Letter of the Lord Legate, Thomas Wolsey, to John Clerk, Bishop of Bath and Wells and Thomas Hannibal. With historical gloss, f. 195v.

ff. 199r-203r: Letters of Farmingham [recte Sir Richard Jerningham?] and Richard Sampson to Cardinal Wolsey. With historical gloss, f. 199r.

ff. 203r-215r: Instructions given by Henry VIII to Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London and Sir Richard Wingfield being sent on special embassy to the Emperor Charles V, [1525]. With historical gloss f. 203r.

ff. 215r-220v: Instructions of King Henry VIII to Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London, Sir Richard Wingfield and Richard Sampson, Ambassadors to the Emperor Charles V.. With historical gloss, f. 215r.

ff. 220v-223r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Richard Sampson and Sir Richard Farmengham [recte Sir Richard Jerningham?], Ambassadors with the Emperor Charles V. With historical gloss, f. 221r.

ff. 223r-230r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Richard Sampson and Sir Richard Farmengham [recte Sir Richard Jerningham?], Ambassadors with the Emperor Charles V. With historical gloss, f. 223v.

ff. 230r-231r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Sir Thomas Boleyn and Richard Sampson, Ambassadors to the Emperor Charles V. With historical gloss, f. 230v.

ff. 231r-232r: Instructions of King Henry VIII to Sir Thomas Boleyn and Richard Sampson of such matters and overtures as they shall make to the Emperor Charles V. With historical gloss, f. 231r.

ff. 232r-237r: Instructions of King Henry VIII to William Knight, Ambassador to Margaret of Savoy, Regent of the Netherlands, concerning certain matters to be treated with the Duke of Bourbon, [1523].

ff. 237r-242v: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], The Moor, 31 Aug 1524.

ff. 242r-245r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], Hampton Court, 7 Aug [no year given].

ff. 245r-248v: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], Westminster, 28 May [no year given].

ff. 248v-249v: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], King's Manor of Bridewell, 5 Mar 1545 [sic: recte 1525?].

ff. 249v-251r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey [?] to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], n.d.

ff. 251r-252v: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], n.d

ff. 252v-253r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], Westminster, last day of Feb [no year].

ff 253r-256r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], Westminster, 28 Jun 1524.

ff. 256v-259r: Instructions given by Henry VIII to Richard Pace, Councillor and Secretary, containing his charge and such matters as he shall disclose to the Duke and Senate of Venice or to their principal authority in the governance of the 'Bien publique' of that dominion.

ff. 259r-262v: Instructions given by Henry VIII to Richard Pace, Councillor and Secretary, sending him on a special embassy to the Swiss.

ff. 262r-265r: Letter of Cardinal Wolsey [?] to Mr Secretary [Richard Pace], n.d.

ff. 266v-265v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Philip III, King of Spain, expostulating the oppressions and miseries done to the King of England's subjects, and delays in giving justice in remedy of them.

ff. 267v-r: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Philip III, King of Spain, complaining of the insolent presumptions of Irish refugees, Feb 1608. The scribe writes 1608, and in other dated Spanish letters Cornwallis uses new style, but if the year is old style 1609.

ff. 268r-267v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis when he was Ambassador to Spain to Philip III, King of Spain, 16 Jun 1608, new style.

ff. 271r-268r: A Discourse used by Sir Charles Cornwallis in the time of his employment as Ambassador in Spain to the Spanish Council of Estate, showing occasions (if not prevented) might endanger the peace between the Kings of Great Britain and Spain. The Discourse is ff. 271r-269r: ff. 269r-268r is the conclusion of the letter to the Spanish Privy Council in which it was enclosed, 28 Jul 1608, new style.

ff. 274v-271v: Short remembrances of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Prince Henry [1610-1614].

ff. 279r-275v: A Discourse of Sir Charles Cornwallis concerning the Government in Ireland [1613 or after].

ff. 280v-279r: Sir Charles Cornwallis, 'Discourse concerning the marriage propounded to Prince Henry with a daughter of Florence (1610?). It is noted in the heading that Cornwallis was the Prince's treasurer and that this was written at his command.

ff. 285v-280v: Certain remembrances to Prince Charles, written by Sir Charles Cornwallis during his commitment in the Tower of London [1614-1615].

f. 286v: Contents page of entries at rear of volume (now ff. 285v-265v).

f. 287v: Jottings and doodles. These include words and short phrases, and variant spellings of the name Wolsey.