Add MS 4173-4175

LETTERS OF JOHN CHAMBERLAIN to Sir Dudley Carleton and others; 1598-1625. Copied by Birch from the originals then in the State Paper Office. Three volumes. Most, if not all, of the letters, from 1603, were printed from Birch's transcripts in The Court and Times of James I, 2 vols., 1849, and The Court and Times of Charles I, 2 vols., 1849. The earlier letters (Vol. I, ff. 63-177) were edited for the Camden Society, Old Ser., vol. 79, 1861, by Sarah Williams. At the beginning of Add. MS. 4173 are inserted a few miscellaneous notes and copies of letters, among them being (a) biographical account of J. Chamberlain (d. 1627), ff. 1-2b;-(b) extract from a MS. 'Life of Edward, Lord Herbert 1st Baron of Cherbury' (d. 1648) particulars of which were taken in 1718 from 'a MS. written by himself'. This autobiography of Lord Herbert has been frequently printed and was last edited by S. L. Lee in 1886. ff. 5-20b;-(c) Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, to Sir Thomas Edmondes; 10 Oct. 1605. ff. 24-26;-(d) Barbara Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland, to Charles II; Paris, 28 -, 1678. 'From the original in the hands of the Earl of Berkshire in 1731'. ff. 38-43;-(e) Six letters from Justinian Pagitt; 1633. Transcribed from Harley MS. 1026. ff. 53-61b. At the end of Add. MS. 4174, in another hand, are:-(a) 'Several Passages concerning the D. of Buck's death. Dated Aug' 23rd' 1628'. ff. 423-424b;-(b) Four letters from Justinian Pagitt (for three of which see above); 1633. ff. 425-429b. Paper; ff. 612, 429, 383. Quarto. XVIII cent.