Cotton MS Vitellius C I

f. 1r: Cottonian title page.

ff. 2r-6v: Blank.

f. 7r-7v: Ordinances by John Alcock, Bishop of Worcester, Anthony Widevile, and E. Rivers. For the government of Shrewsbury. April 10 1478.

ff. 8r-13v: Blank.

ff. 14r-15r: Remembrances proposed by the commissioners. Concerning things to be executed regarding the government of the Welsh Marches. No date, but from the reign of King Henry VIII.

f. 15**r: Names of the knights and esquires appointed by the King in the Welsh Marches. To give attendance with their retainers to assist the King’s commissioners at Ludlow. With information on the fees allowed to them. No date, but from the reign of King Henry VIII.

ff. 16r-22v: Blank.

ff. 23r-34v: Oath of the counsellors attending the Princess Mary, sent to reside in Wales. With instructions, and two fragments. [January 1526].

ff. 35r-37v: Instructions for Princess Mary’s council. July 20 [1526].

f. 37r-37v: Blank.

ff. 38r-55v: Minutes of several laws, regulations, and acts of Parliament for the government of Wales. From between the reign of King Henry VI and 1544.

ff. 56r-58v: Blank.

ff. 59r-64v: Brief paper on the effects devised for the government of Wales. No date, but from the reign of King Henry VIII.

ff. 65r-67r: Instructions given by King Henry VIII to Sir William Sidney, Chamberlain, and Sir John Cornwallis, Steward to Prince Edward. No date.

ff. 67*r: Letter from Walter Devereux, addressed to his nephew. Remonstrating against the compelling of Welsh men to appear before the Westminster courts. Charteley, [13 January 1526].

ff. 68r-88v: Blank.

ff. 89r-108r: Instructions given by Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Henry Sidney, President of the Council of the Marches of Wales. No date.

ff. 109r-117v: Orders given by Queen Elizabeth I for the direction and reformation of her court in the Marches of Wales. No date.

ff. 118r-122r: Instructions from the Privy Council to Sir Henry Sidney, President of the Council of the Marches of Wales, John Alcock, Bishop of Worcester, and other commissioners. On their appointment to examine and reform certain disorders in Wales. No date, but from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

ff. 124r-140r: Instructions given by Queen Elizabeth I to Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, President of the Council for Wales. Windsor, September 15 1586.

ff. 146r-161r: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche and President of the Council for Wales. Greenwich, July 7 1602.

ff. 162r-177r: Instructions from King James I to Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche and President of the Council for Wales. Salisbury, August 26 1603.

ff. 178r-189v: Blank.

ff. 190r-191r: Paper debating whether the Lord President and Council of the Welsh Marches have authority over the four English shires. No date.

ff. 192r-193r: Notes on a speech by King James I concerning the four shires. No date.

ff. 194r-195r: Historical arguments extracted from records. Concerning the jurisdiction of the Lord President and Council of the Welsh Marches over the four English counties. No date.

ff. 196r-199v: Tract showing that the counties of Gloucester, Hereford and Salop are no parcel of Wales, or the Welsh Marches. No date.

ff. 200r-201r: Paper giving reasoning to prove that the three English counties were no longer part of the Welsh Marches, since the statute of 27 Henry VIII c. 26.

f. 202r: Copy of the statute of 27 Henry VIII c. 26. Concerning the three counties.

ff. 203r-204v: Paper giving reasoning against the proofs offered for the jurisdiction of the Lord President and Council of the Welsh Marches over the four English counties. No date.

ff. 205r-208r: Reasons against the Council in the Welsh Marches. Delivered to the council of King James I. No date.

ff. 209r-215r: Copy of Francis Bacon, Arguments of Law. The Arguments on the Jurisdiction of the Council of the Marches. Concerning the jurisdiction of the council over the four shires. c. 1616.

ff. 216r-221v: Blank.

ff. 222r-225v: Paper giving reasons against the exemption of the four shires from the government of Wales. No date.

f. 226r-226v: Paper giving reasons that the bill preferred for explanation of the statutes of 34 and 35 Henry VIII, relating to the four shires, should not be passed. No date.

ff. 227r-232r: Paper discussing who is responsible to reform default of justice in the Welsh Marches. With other related untitled papers and drafts. No date.

ff. 233r-236v: Paper concerning the Lord President and Council of the Welsh Marches. No date.

ff. 237r-237*r: Paper giving some further proof that the counties of Gloucester and Hereford are in the Welsh Marches. No date.

ff. 238r-239v: Paper discussing whether, if the Council of the Marches were to exceed their authority, the King’s Bench may examine and reform it. No date.

ff. 240r-247v: Paper discussing the grounds, places and counties intended by the words ‘marches of the same’ in the statute of 34 and 35 Henry VIII (the ‘Ordinance of Wales').

ff. 248r-251v: Blank.

ff. 252r-254v: Paper discussing the inexpediency of exempting Gloucester, Hereford, Monmouth and Salop from the government of the Council of Wales. No date.

f. 255v: Catalogue of the Presidents of the Council of Wales, from 1474 to 1602.

f. 256r-256v: Results of a consultation between the Attorney General, on one part, and Sir Francis Bacon and Sir John Crook, serjeant at law, on the other part. Concerning matters between the King’s Bench and the Lord President of Wales. No date.

f. 257r: Extracts concerning Wales. Taken from books received from the Earl of Salisbury. No date. No date.

ff. 257v-258r: List of reasons for exempting the four English counties from the jurisdiction of the Council of Wales. No date.

ff. 258v-259r: Memorial of the Earl of Salisbury, concerning the four counties. No date.

ff. 259v-260r: Abstract of some suits concerning the four English counties before the Lord President and Council, previous to the statute of the ordinance of Wales. No date.

f. 261v: Fragment of abstracts concerning instructions given by Queen Elizabeth I for the North. August 10 1599.

ff. 262r-268r: Abstract of instructions given by King James I to Ralph Eure, 3rd Baron Eure and President of the Council for Wales. August 23 1607.

ff. 269r-270v: Three letters concerning the contest over the jurisdiction of Wales. Listing principal inhabitants of the four counties. January 13 and 24 1607.

ff. 271r-272v: Blank.

f. 273r: Patent of Queen Mary I. Appointing Gilbert Bourne, Bishop of Bath and Wells, as President of the Council of Wales. October 28 1558.

ff. 273v-274v: Blank.

ff. 275r-276r: Paper giving the opinion of Sir James Dyer and other judges. Concerning the jurisdiction of the county of Chester, and the controversy between the judges and the President and Council of Wales. Presented to Queen Elizabeth I. February 10 1568.

ff. 276v-302*v: Blank.