Add MS 48020

MISCELLANEOUS TRACTS AND PAPERS, mostly relating to trade, coinage, etc.; 16th cent. Copies. Some titles by Beale. Contents list, ff. iv-vb.

1. ff. 1-18. 'The declaracion made by John Fortescu Knighte uppon certaine writinges sent out of Scotlande againste the Kinges title of his realme of Englande', a tract in which Sir John Fortescue disavowed Lancastrian writings issued in his name; 1471-1473. Printed in Lord Clermont, Works of Sir John Fortescue, 1869, i, pp. 520-541. Other MSS. are: Add. 48079, art. 3, Royal MS. 17 D.X, ff. 311b-326b, and (incomplete) Harley MSS. 537, ff. 1-8b and 1757, ff. 188-195b.

2. ff. 26-52b. Two tracts on Parliament by John Hooker al. Vowell; 1571-1572. First printed as The order and usage of the keeping of the Parlements in England, 1572 (STC 24886.7). For a modern edition with introduction, taken from the Exeter edition which was also printed in 1572 (STC 24887, BL C.21.b.3), see V. F. Snow, ed., Parliament in Elizabethan England. John Hooker's Order and Usage, 1977. For other copies see Add. MSS. 48025, art. 35 and 48110, art. 1. As follows: (a) 'The olde and auncyent order of kepinge of the Parlament in Englande . . . ', a translation of the 'B' text of the 'Modus Tenendi Parliamentum'. On English translations of the 'Modus' see J. Taylor in EHR, xxxiii, 1968, p. 685; Hooker's text is virtually the same as the 15th cent. translation in Add. 15091, though he states in the preface to the Exeter edition of 1572 (see Snow, p. 125) that he translated the work from the Latin. ff. 26-32; (b) 'The order and usage howe to kepe a Parlament in Englonde in theise dayes . . . '; 1571-1572. Hooker inserted this tract, based on his experience in the 1571 Parliament, in his edition of Holinshed's Chronicles, 1587, but without the list of persons to be summoned at ff. 50-52b. Other copies are Add. 48025, art. 35 (contemporary), and Harley MS. 1178, ff. 19-27. ff. 33-52b.

3. ff. 62-79. 'A Description of the Courtes of Justice in England'; 1576. By Alexander Fisher, see PRO SP 12/110/19.

4. ff. 88-92. Papers concerning the state of the Scots border country; 1575-1579, n.d. As follows: (a) Letter by Sir John Forster al. Foster to the Council; 1575. See SPF 1575-1577, no. 167. Another copy is Cotton MS. Caligula C.V, ff. 28-28b. ff. 89-89b; (b) 'Causes of the decaye of servitors and services in the Marches of england . . . '; 1579. See Calendar of letters and papers relating to the affairs of the borders of England and Scotland . . . , 1894-1896, no. 41. f. 90; (c) 'Some speciall causes of the decaye of the horsemen upon these marches'; n.d. f. 91; (d) 'The meanes howe to healpe the decaye of horsemen and other disorders upon the borders'; 1575. See SPF 1575-1577, no. 554. f. 92.

5. ff. 100-130b. Regulations for the royal household; 1526, n.d. As follows: (a) Ordinances of Eltham; 1526. Printed in Ordinances and Regulations for the Government of the Royal Household . . . , Society of Antiquaries, 1790, pp. 131-161, from Harley MS. 642, ff. 145b-176b. ff. 100-116; (b) Orders for the King's household; n.d. Other copies are Add. 48025, art. 34 and Harley 642, ff. 204b-205. ff. 117-117b; (c) 'A shorte and generall note for the Lord Chambreleyne'; n.d. f. 118; (d) Supplement to the Ordinances of Eltham; 1526. The present text differs considerably from that in Add. 34319, ff. 3-20. ff. 118b-130b.

6. ff. 131-143b. 'A declaration made by Sr Thomas Wiatt Knight of his Innocencye beinge in the Tower upon the accusacion of Doctor Bonarde Bysshop of London made unto the Councell the yere of or Lorde [1541]'. Printed by Horace Walpole in Miscellaneous Antiquities, 1772, ii, pp. 21-54, from a transcript by Thomas Gray, the poet, of Harley MS. 78, ff. 5-15.

7. ff. 147-184. Treatise on foreign exchange; aft. 1559.

8. ff. 187-195. 'Articles for reformation of the deceiptes used in the receavinge and payinge of the Qnes Mats revenues of custome, subsidie and imposte . . . '; c. 1573. Attributed to George Nedham in G. D. Ramsay, Politics of a Tudor Merchant Adventurer, 1979, p. 17.

9. ff. 196-201. Discourse against the usury of the exchanges, written by a London merchant at Antwerp; 1550. A short extract is printed in Schanz, ii, p. 642.

10. ff. 201b-220. Memorandum for the Royal Commission on the Exchanges; 1564-1565. Printed in part in Tudor Econ. Docs., iii, pp. 346-359, from Harley MS. 660, ff. 107-118. ff. 202-214. Followed (ff. 214b-220) by 'A Treatise concerning the Mintage of the monies necessarlie depending upon the booke of exchange . . . '; [1585?]. According to a note in Add. 41614, f. 19, both these treatises were by Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Royal Household.

11. ff. 223-224b. ' . . . an answere unto the demannd whie there is no great plentie of or Ryalls Angell nobles Suffrens old and new sterling monies in the Realme of Fraunce and Flaunders . . . '; temp. Eliz. I? Another copy is Add. 48019, ff. 83b-85.

12. ff. 231-258. Papers concerning reform of the coinage, including: (a) Papers concerning the proposals of Christopher Bumpstead, mercer of London, for a copper or base silver coinage; c. 1560. See C. E. Challis, The Tudor Coinage, 1978, pp. 205-206. ff. 231-239b, 246-258; (b) Memorandum on the reasons moving Elizabeth I to reform the coinage; 1569. Printed in Tudor Econ. Docs., iii, pp. 193-195, from PRO SP 12/11/6. ff. 241-242; (c) Papers concerning the proposal of Wickliff, goldsmith, of London, and William Humfrey, assay master at the Mint, for introduction of halfpennies and farthings; 1573. ff. 257-258.

13. ff. 259-262. 'A Discours geven to Sr Thomas Smith for the maynteyning of Mynes an Cockermouth in the Northe Countrye'; 1573.

14. ff. 263-264. Notes on cost of ordnance; n.d.

15. ff. 268-301b. George Nedham, letter to the Counts of East Friesland; 1564-1572. Printed by Ramsay, op. cit., with a list of other MSS.

16. ff. 303-314b. John Johnson and Christopher Goodwin, project for erecting a mart town at Ipswich; 1573. Printed from PRO SP 12/88/22, in Tudor Econ. Docs., iii, pp. 173-199, with the title 'Ipswich out of England or Antwerp in England'.

17. ff. 316b-325b. Papers relating to the wine trade and Vintners' Company, etc.; temp. Eliz. I.

18. ff. 326-328b. 'Reasons to move the forbearing of tracficque wth Flaunders'; aft. 1569. For another copy, see Cotton MS. Caligula B.V, ff. 316-318b.

19. ff. 330-332. Michael Lok, 'Certen Notes touching the benefitt that may growe to England by the traffique of Englishe marchants into Russia . . . '; 1575. Printed in E. A. Bond, Russia at the Close of the Sixteenth Century, Hakluyt Society, 1856, pp. viii-xiv. Another copy is Harley MS. 541,

ff. 165-173.

20. ff. 333-339. Papers concerning petitions of merchants trading with Spain and Portugal and merchants trading with Barbary for incorporation; c. 1567-1568.

21. ff. 341-344b. Papers concerning the grant of monopoly on sweet oils and currents to Acerbo Velutelli; c. 1575.

22. ff. 346-357b. Orders, etc., concerning assurance; 1577, n.d.

23. ff. 359-362b. Memoranda of financial loss and gain in the wine trade;

c. 1576.

Paper; ff. x + 363. A contemporary foliation 1-377, replaced from 132 (modern f. 131) by a 17th-cent. foliation 160-399. Folio. Late XVI cent. Calthorpe armorial stamp passim. Vellum binding. Vellum fragments of a 14th-cent. MS. on canon law with red and blue decorated initials used as binding strips, ff. i-ii, ix-x. Titled and numbered '21' on the spine. Lettered 'G'? on covers.

Bookplates and Book-stamps: Heraldry: Gough-Calthorpe family; Barons Calthorpe of Elvetham: Heraldic book-stamp of the Barons Calthorpe: late 18th-19th centt.

Elizabeth I of England: Papers of R. Beale, Clerk of the Council: 16th cent.

Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Correspondence and papers.

includes:

• ff. 1-18 Sir John Fortescue, Chief Justice of the King's Bench: `The declaracion . . . uppon certaine writinges sent out of Scotlande againste the Kinges title . . .': 1471-1473: Copies, 16th-17th centt.
• ff. 26-52b John Hooker, alias Vowell; antiquary: `The Order and Usage of the Keeping of Parlement': 1571-1572: Copies, 16th-17th centt.
• ff. 26-52b England; Parliament: J. Hooker al. Vowell, `The Order and Usage of the Keeping of Parlement': 1571-1572: Copies, 16th-17th centt.
• ff. 62-79 Alexander Fisher, fl. 1756: `A Description of the Courtes of Justice in England': 1576: Copy.
• ff. 62-79 Law OF ENGLAND: A. Fisher, `A Description of the Courtes of Justice in England': 1576: Copy.
• f. 89 Sir John Forster, alias Foster; Warden of the Marches: Letter to Lords of the Council: 1575: Copy.
• ff. 89-92 James VI of Scotland: Papers conc. state of the border country: 1575-1579, n.d.: Copies.
• ff. 89-92 County of Northumberland: Papers conc. state of Scottish border country: 1575-1579, n.d.
• ff. 100-130b Henry VIII of England: Regulations for royal household: 1526, n.d.
• ff. 100-130b England; Royal Household: Regulations: 1526, n.d.
• ff. 131-143b Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder; poet: Declaration of his innocence: 1541: Copy.
• ff. 147-184, 196-214, 223-224b Coinage: Tracts on exchange: 1550-1565, temp. Eliz. I: Copies.
• ff. 147-184, 196-224b Exchange: Tracts on foreign exchange: 1550-[1585?], temp. Eliz. I.
• ff. 147-326b passim Trade and Commerce: Tracts, etc., conc. trade, commerce aznd finance: 1550-1585, n.d.: Copies, 16th cent.
• ff. 187-195 Customs and Excise: Proposals for reform of collection of, by G. Nedham(?): c. 1573: Copy.
• ff. 187-195 George Nedham, merchant, of London: Proposals by (?), for reform of collection of customs: circa 1573: Copy.
• ff. 201b-220 Coinage: Sir F. Knollys, tracts on exchange and the Mint: 1564-[1585?].
• ff. 201b-220 Sir Francis Knollys, KG: Treasurer of the Royal Household: Tracts on exchange and the Mint: 1564-[1585?]: Copies.
• ff. 214b-220 Mint: Tract on, by Sir F. Knollys: [1585?]: Copy.
• ff. 231-239b, 246-256 Christopher Bumpstead, mercer, of London: Papers conc. his proposals for coinage: c. 1560: Copies.
• ff. 231-258 Coinage: Papers concerning reform of coinage: c. 1560-1573: Copies.
• ff. 241-242 Elizabeth I of England: Reasons for reform of coinage: 1569: Copy.
• ff. 257-258 Wickliff, goldsmith, of London: Proposals for introduction of halfpennies and farthings: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 257-258 William Humfrey, Assay Master at the Mint: Proposals for introduction of halfpennies and farthings: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 259-262 Cockermouth, Cumberland: Discourse conc. mines at: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 259-262 Sir Thomas Smith, Secretary of State: Discourse on mines at Cockermouth given to: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 259-262 Mines: Discourse on mines at Cockermouth given to Sir Thomas Smith: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 263-264 Ordnance: Notes on its cost: 16th cent.
• ff. 268-301b George Nedham, merchant, of London: Letter to the Counts of East Friesland: 1564-1572: Copy.
• ff. 268-301b East Friesland: Letter to the Counts of, from G. Nedham: 1564-1572: Copy.
• ff. 303-314b Christopher Goodwin, merchant, of Ipswich: Project for erecting a mart town at Ipswich: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 303-314b John Johnson, merchant: Project for erecting a mart town at Ipswich: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 303-314b Ipswich, Suffolk: Project for erecting a mart town at: 1573: Copy.
• ff. 316b-325b, 359-362b Wine: Papers conc. wine prices, the Vintners' Company, etc.,: c. 1576, temp. Eliz. I.
• ff. 316b-325b, 359-362b Vintners; Company of the City of London: Papers conc. Vintners' Company, etc.,: c. 1576, temp. Eliz. I.
• ff. 326-328b Netherlands, General: `Reasons to move the forbearing of tracficque with Flanders': aft. 1569.
• ff. 330-332 Michael Lok, traveller: Notes on benefits of trade with Russia: 1575: Copy.
• ff. 330-332 Russia General: Notes by M. Lok on benefits of trade with: 1575: Copy.
• ff. 333-334 Portugal General: Paper conc. petition of English merchants trading with: c. 1567-1568.
• ff. 333-334, 337b-339 Philip II of Spain: Papers conc. petition of English merchants trading with: c. 1567-1568.
• ff. 335-337 Barbary: Papers conc. petition of English merchants trading with: c. 1567-1568.
• ff. 341-344b Acerbo Velutelli, Italian merchant in London: Papers conc. his monopoly on sweet oils and currents: c. 1575: Copies.
• ff. 346-357b Insurance: Orders, etc., rel. to: 1577, n.d.: Copies.
• ff. 350-350b, 355-357b London; Lord Mayor, Corporation, etc: Orders, etc., for deciding controversies over assurance: 1577: Copies.
• ff. 351-354b London; Secular Institutions. Royal Exchange: Orders of assurance in: 1577: Abstract.
• ff. 355-357b Court of Admiralty: Papers conc. use of admiralty judge to settle assurance disputes: 1577: Copies.