Add MS 48116

PAPERS RELATING TO TRADE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE EARL OF LEICESTER'S EXPEDITION TO THE NETHERLANDS, etc.; 1563-mid 17th cent. Partly Latin. Partly copies and drafts.

1. ff. 2-24b. Papers relating to the dispute between the Merchant Adventurers and merchants trading with Spain arising from the seizure of English merchantmen by the Dutch at Flushing, spring 1576. Beale undertook two missions in April and June to obtain their release, and witnessed at Flushing an agreement whereby the Merchant Adventurers promised to compensate the 'Spanish merchants' for goods seized by the Dutch. The Spanish merchants claimed that the agreement was not honoured, and the Privy Council referred the case to the Master of the Rolls and the Admiralty judge, see APC 1575-1577, pp. 244-245. At f. 2 is a note by Beale, 'February 1579 Touching the Stiliard and Company of Merchants Adventurers'. As follows: (a) Petitions to the Privy Council from the merchants trading with Spain against the Merchant Adventurers; Oct.-Nov. 1576. Copies. See APC 1575-1577, pp. 221-222, 234-235. ff. 7-10b; (b) Original instructions from the Privy Council to Beale on his mission to Flushing; 17 April 1576. Signed. Printed from a copy at the PRO in Lettenhove, viii, pp. 339-341. See SPF 1575-1577, no. 737. The manuscript has a final paragraph in Beale's hand not recorded in the printed versions. ff. 11-11b, 13-13b; (c) Examination of Beale on the depositions of the 'Spanish' merchants; 31 Oct 1576. Signed by Beale. ff. 12-12(c); (d) Examination of Beale upon the depositions of the Merchant Adventurers; Oct.-Nov. 1576. Signed by Beale. ff. 14-14b; (e) Drafts of (c) and (d) in Beale's hand. ff. 15-24b.

2. ff. 25-26b. Memoranda relating to trade and foreign affairs; late 16th cent. Partly Latin. (a) Extracts from treaties between England, the Empire and Spain, tempp. Hen. VII and Hen. VIII. ff. 25-25b; (b) Notes on the Papal claim to the right to grant unexplored land. See also art. 4(b) below. ff. 26-26b.

3. ff. 27-27b. Memorandum on negotiations between England and France, 1558-1564, which resulted in the loss of Calais; late 16th cent. In the same hand as art. 2(b) above.

4. ff. 29-32b. Two bifolia, as follows: (a) Reply of merchants trading with Spain to objections raised by the Merchant Adventurers to the proposed incorporation of the 'Spanish' merchants; [Nov. 1574-early 1577]. Merchants trading with Spain applied for incorporation in Nov. 1574, SPD 1547-1580, p. 488, and their letters patent were granted in June 1577, see CPR 1575-1578, no. 2256. The establishment of the first Spanish Company is discussed in the introduction to The Spanish Company, ed. P. Croft, London Record Society, 1973, pp. x-xiv. See also below artt. 6(b), (c), and 7(a). ff. 29-29b, 32-32b; (b) Notes entitled 'Whether an Englishe man may trade into the Indyes'; [1588-1595]. Apparently composed after the Armada and before Drake's last voyage of 1595-1596. Partly Latin. See also art. 2(b) above. ff. 30-31b.

5. ff. 34-37b. Account of the 'Nynthe and later Voyage' of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, i.e. his voyage to the West Indies; 6 March-1 Oct. 1598. First written at sea by Peter Hayburn, a passenger on the voyage, and completed by Richard Robinson, leatherseller and scrivener; 13 Jan. 1599 (f. 37b). Calligraphically written by Robinson, with his signature and mark, f. 37b. Accounts of the voyage are discussed in G. C. Williamson, George, Third Earl of Cumberland, 1920, pp. 174-185, where two MS. versions by Robinson are mentioned, but no references are given. The fuller of these is printed in Williamson, pp. 177-185: in this version (p. 185), Robinson states that he wrote the copy on 3 August 1599, having presented Cumberland with the first copy of the work on 23 April 1599. The version in the present manuscript, therefore, appears to antedate the version in Williamson. The present version is similar to, but not so full as, the version printed in Williamson: it has a 'Wryter's Praeface' (ff. 34-34b), which does not appear in the printed edition. An account by Robinson of all Cumberland's voyages, including the voyage of 1598, is in Royal MS. 18.A.LXVI, ff. 27-29, a volume written by Robinson in 1603. Sloane MS. 3289 is a different account of the voyage. For other writings of Robinson, and his activities as a bibliographer and scrivener, see the description of Add. 48182.

6. ff. 39-44b. Three bifolia, as follows: (a) Letter (undated) from Elizabeth I to the Doge of Venice, relating to trade; [12/22 March 1585?]. Draft, amended and endorsed by Beale. SP Ven. 1581-1591, no. 265, an entry made from the original letter, gives the date above, but names the Doge as Pasquale Cicogna, who was not elected until Aug. 1585 (SPF 1584-1585,

p. 658). ff. 39-39b, 44-44b; (b) 'The effect of the graunte required by the merchauntes trading Spaine and Portingall', being a list of terms requested by the 'Spanish' merchants for their charter of incorporation; [Nov. 1574-early 1577]. See artt. 4(a) above, 6(c), 7(a) below. ff. 40-40b, 43-43b; (c) Reasons for and against the incorporation of merchants trading with Spain; [Nov. 1574-early 1577]. See artt. 4(a) and 6(b) above, 7(a) below. ff. 41b-42b.

7. ff. 45-50b. Three bifolia, as follows: (a) Arguments in favour of the incorporation of the 'Spanish' merchants; [Nov. 1574-early 1577]. See artt. 4(a) and 6(b)-(c) above. ff. 45-45b, 50-50b; (b) Letter from Elizabeth I to Philip II of Spain complaining about Bishop De Quadra, the Spanish ambassador; 9 Jan. 1563. Latin. Signed. Written and subscribed (f. 4b) by Roger Ascham. Marginal title (f. 45) 'Arrest between Ingl. and Spa.', probably referring to the trade embargo of 1563. See also art. 7(c) below. Endorsed 'Ann H 359'. Calendared from a PRO copy in SPF 1563, no. 60. The original appears to have reached the English ambassador in Spain in March 1563, ibid., no. 61. See Conyers Read, Mr Secretary Cecil and Queen Elizabeth, 1955, pp. 253-254. ff. 46-46b, 49-49b; (c) Letter from Philip II to Elizabeth I, concerning diplomatic relations; 20 May 1572. Latin. Signed. Endorsed, f. 48b: (i) by Burghley, '20 May 1572 . . . ' ;

(ii) by Beale, 'For restitution of the Arrests'. See also art. 7(b) above.

ff. 47-48b.

8. ff. 51-79b. 'A Declaration of such causes as have moved the Erle of Leycester to thinck him self not well dealt with by the L. Buckhurst, Sr John Norreys Knight, and Mr Wylkes': a defence by the Earl of Leicester, of his service in the Netherlands, 1586-1587, relating to his quarrels with Lord Buckhurst, envoy to the States General March-July 1587, Sir John Norris, military commander in the Netherlands under Leicester, and Thomas Wilkes, Clerk to the Privy Council, and English counsellor to Leicester July 1586-June 1587; winter 1587-1588. Composed after the death of Sir William Pelham on 24 Nov. 1587, see f. 71b. See MacCaffrey, pp. 370, 380, 382. Buckhurst, Norris and Wilkes were questioned by the Privy Council regarding Leicester's accusation against them in the summer of 1587; SPF April-Dec. 1587, pp. 181-183, 196-198, 212-215, 217, 247, 283. Apparently the dispute was revived after Leicester's return to England in Dec. 1587; ibid., p. 215, SPD 1581-1590, p. 470. The final paragraph

(f. 79b) records that Buckhurst was charged with a collection of points made from this document by Sir Thomas Heneage, vice-chamberlain, and Sir Francis Walsingham. Buckhurst made a verbal reply, to which Leicester responded (see art. 9 below). See also Add. 48127, art. 1.

9. ff. 84b-85b. Leicester's response to Buckhurst's defence (see art. 8 above); early 1588. Similar to Leicester's objections in the item calendared in SPF April-Dec. 1587, pp. 213-215. ff. 81-84. Followed by a recital of points made by Leicester to which Buckhurst has made no reply; early 1588.

10. ff. 86-90. Memorial to Sir Francis Vere, commander in the Netherlands, to deal with the States General on behalf of the Earl of Essex in the matter of a debt owed by the States to Lady Ursula Walsingham, widow of Sir Francis Walsingham and mother-in-law of Essex; 1598? See HMC, Salisbury MSS., viii, p. 444. Draft, amended by Beale. While on an embassy to the Netherlands in 1578, Sir Francis Walsingham had raised money for the States on his personal security. See Read, Walsingham, i, p. 394, iii, p. 443 and Lettenhove, x, pp. 608-609.

11. ff. 92-99b. Articles proposed by the English during negotiations with deputies of the States General of the United Provinces for the Treaty of Nonsuch; late July-early Aug. 1585. Draft, with alterations in Walsingham's hand. The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed on 10 August o.s. 1585. IBT, ii, p. 46. The present articles were apparently prepared after the preliminary contract for the relief of Antwerp, which was signed on 2 Aug. o.s. 1585, had been agreed (see f. 93b). For a detailed account of the negotiations see Motley, i, pp. 317-332, and Read, Walsingham, iii, pp. 106 sqq. Contemporary endorsements: '6.3', '14', and 'Caron', i.e. Noel de Caron, subsequently agent for the United Provinces in England.

12. ff. 100-109. Papers relating to negotiations between England and the United Provinces to amend defects in the Treaty of Nonsuch, particularly relating to military affairs and abuses in the musters; 1588-1590. Annotated and endorsed by Beale. These papers were apparently used by Beale in 1595 while preparing a report on the debt owed by the United Provinces to the Queen, see his note on f. 100 recording the delivery of two bags of Walsingham's papers to Burghley on 11 Oct. 1596, and art. 13 below. As follows: (a) Summary of reasons why it is alleged that England's assistance to the United Provinces has not fulfilled the terms of the treaty; early 1588. There is a reference to Leicester's recent departure from the Netherlands, Dec. 1587, f. 103. ff. 101-103b; (b) Memorandum anticipating objections that the States General may make to the Queen's accounts for assistance provided under the treaty; early 1588? In the same hand as art. 12(a) above. ff. 104-104b, 109-109b; (c) Replies of the States General to propositions put to them by Thomas Wilkes, envoy to the United Provinces May-Aug 1590; 16 July 1590. See SPF July 1590-May 1591, no. 203. ff. 106-108b

13. ff. 110b-144b. Papers relating to war accounts, as follows: (a) Report for the Privy Council by Beale, Sir Henry Killigrew and Arthur Atye, on the accounts for 1586-1589 of Richard Hurleston al. Huddleston and Sir Thomas Shirley, successively Treasurers-at-War in the Netherlands; summer 1595. Draft, amended by Beale. Other copies are Add. 48084, art. 31 (signed by the writers) and Cotton MS. Galba D.XI, ff. 106-117b. The report, which concludes that the Treasurers had paid the States more than their due, was made in connection with negotiations taking place in 1595 to obtain the payment of outstanding loans by the United Provinces. ff. 110b-125; (b) An earlier draft of (a) above; summer 1595. Annotated by Beale. ff. 127b-144b.

14. ff. 145-149b. Instructions for 'A.B.', William Davison, on his mission to the United Provinces; 25 Aug. o.s. 1585. Draft, amended by Burghley. See Read, Burghley, 1960, p. 323. Endorsed 'D.3'.

15. f. 150. Covering letter to? Burghley from Beale, Sir Henry Killigrew and Arthur Atye, for a report compiled for the Privy Council (see Add. 48084, art. 33); 18 Sept. o.s. 1595. Draft, amended and signed by Beale, who has appended the names of the other writers.

16. ff. 151-152b. Letter from Lord Buckhurst to Elizabeth I, relating to the treatment of William Davison after the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots; late Feb. 1587. Copy. On this subject see R. B. Wernham, 'The disgrace of William Davison', EHR, xlvi, 1931, pp. 632-636.

17. ff. 154-213. 'A Treatise made by a Burgess of the lower house in parlement manifestly proving that the proceedings of ye Ld. Archbishop of Canterbury against the poore Ministers is unlawfull etc': Beale's treatise attacking Archbishop Whitgift's proceedings against Puritan ministers; 1585. Draft, with heading, amendments, etc., by Beale. The treatise is in the form of a speech to the House of Commons and may be based upon a speech which Beale made in the Commons on 25 February 1585, see Neale, Parliaments, ii, pp. 66-68. Other papers relating to Beale's dispute with Whitgift are in Add. 48039; see also Add. 48064, art. 4(b).

18. ff. 214-215b. Speech in the House of Commons by Henry Yelverton during a debate on the Fortescue-Goodwin election dispute, in the first session of the first parliament of James I; 30 March 1604. The present MS. is used in Commons 1604-1610, pp. 70-72. The speech is also extensively reported in proceedings for the parliament, Cotton MS. Titus F.IV, ff. 8b-9b.

19. ff. 216-267b. Tracts relating to foreign affairs; 17th cent. Other copies of this collection of items are Add. 39254, ff. 3-59, and Harley MS. 6353, ff. 51-79b. As follows: (a) ' . . . a most learned discourse concerning severall passages touching peace or warr with Spaine', with a prefatory letter to James I; 1603-1604. Apparently written by John Atkinson al. Atkins, see Add. 34219, ff. 10b-24b, another copy. Peace negotiations between England and Spain began in London in May 1604 and a peace treaty was signed on 19 Aug. 1604. ff. 216-250b; (b) Francis Bacon, 'A short view to bee taken of great Brittaine and Spaine'; 1619. For another copy see Add. 48062, art. 11. ff. 251-256; (c) 'Reasons coniecturall of warr and truce betwixt the Spaniards . . . and the Lords States Generall'; 1621. For another copy see Add. 48062, art. 12. ff. 256-264b; (d) 'For freeing of the Palatinate by armes . . . '; c. 1620. For another copy see Add. 48062, art. 13. ff. 264b-267b.

20. ff. 271-302. Summary, etc., of a treatise by? Beale, claiming that episcopal proceedings against puritan ministers are an abuse of ecclesiastical jurisdiction; 1585? Composed after the appointment of Edmund Freke as Bishop of Worcester, 5 Dec. 1584, see ff. 280, 301b. The summary is amended by Beale and ff. 274-278 are wholly in his hand. See also art. 17 above, Add. 48039 and Collison, pp. 244 sqq. Other sections as follows: 'Thinges directlie don against the Lawes and Customes of Englande'. ff. 271b-281b; 'Offences against the Canon Law . . . ' ff. 282-284b; 'Offences against the Commission Ecclesiasticall'. ff. 285-286; Errors in the bishops' arguments, discovered in the treatise. ff. 288-302.

21. ff. 306-309b. Treatise opposing the claim of the Irish clergy for their own commission to judge matters concerning church property, etc.; c. Jan. 1619. A petition relating to the weak state of the Irish church and its difficulties in obtaining justice was presented to James I by George Montgomery, Bishop of Meath, as representative of the Irish prelates: this was discussed in the Council at Whitehall on 15 Jan. 1619. See SP Ireland 1615-1625, nos. 475, 517.

22. ff. 310-331. 'A discourse of trade', addressed to James I; 3 Sept. 1622. The treatise is concerned with Dutch competition and suggests remedies for the decline in English trade. Other copies are Harley MS. 2204, ff. 89-109 (f. 109 bears a heavily erased signature) and Stowe MS. 574, ff. 53-58b. Concern about the state of trade led to the production of a number of economic tracts at this period and James I set up a commission on trade 21 Oct. 1622. See: Seventeenth-Century Economic Documents, ed. J. Thirsk and J. P. Cooper, 1972, pp. 16-23; J. D. Gould, 'The trade depression of the early 1620's', Economic History Review, 2nd ser., vii, 1954-1955, pp. 81-90; B. E. Supple, Commercial Crisis and Change in England 1600-1642, 1959, pp. 52-72.

23. ff. 334-336b. Documents entered in the Privy Council registers relative to propositions of Thomas, Viscount Wentworth, Lord Deputy of Ireland, concerning the administration of Ireland, which were considered by the Council on 17 Feb. 1632. Contemporary copies. Endorsed 32/14 (f. 337b). These propositions were the basis for promises secured by Wentworth from the King and Council giving him full control of Irish justice and patronage. As follows: (a) Directions from the King to the Masters of Request not to consider Irish suits and appeals; 2 March 1632. f. 334; (b) Wentworth's propositions, with the Council's comments, as entered in the Council register; 22 Feb. 1632. The propositions and comments are printed more fully from other MSS. in W. Knowler, The Earl of Strafforde's Letters and Dispatches . . . , i, 1739, pp. 65-67. See also SP Ireland 1625-1632, nos. 2081, 2086. ff. 335-336b.

24. ff. 338-345b. Letter to Burghley from Beale, appealing against the Queen's intention to grant his office of Clerk to the Council to a nominee of the Earl of Essex; 24 April 1595. Draft, amended by Beale. The original letter is Lansdowne MS. 79, ff. 192-195b.

25. ff. 346-355. Treatise on the Exchequer entitled 'The Fourme and paterne of a chessbourde . . . ', with two plans; late 16th cent. Partly Latin. Copy. See the description of Add. 48038, art. 2, above, an earlier copy.

26. ff. 359-359(d). The opinion of civil lawyers upon the right of the Senate of Hamburg to refuse to renew the ten-year concordat made with the Merchant Adventurers in 1567; 1585-1586 (see Add. 48115, art. 5). Latin. The concordat had allowed the Merchant Adventurers to establish a staple at Hamburg: when the agreement expired in 1577, Hamburg was prevented from renewing the contract by a decree of the assembly of the Hanseatic League. See E. Lipson, The Economic History of England, ii, 1956,

pp. 204-205, and SPF 1578-1579, no. 29, 20 June 1578.

Paper; ff. 363 + (12(a)-(c), 14(a)-(b), 59*, 111(a)-(c), 122*, 124(a)-(b), 128*, 129*, 131(a)-(c), 132*, 133*, 137*, 139*, 147*, 186*, 275*, 281*, 283(a)-(b), 285(a)-(b), 295(a)-(b), 395(a)-(d)). 17th-cent. foliation. Folio. XVI-XVII centt. Unplaced loose memoranda in Beale's hand have been mounted at the end of the volume (ff. 360-363). Calthorpe armorial stamp passim. Bound in a vellum bifolium from a Sarum antiphoner printed at Paris, 1519, 1520; for other MSS. similarly bound, see the Introduction. Numbered '131' on spine, which bears traces of a label.

Liturgies LATIN: Leaves from a printed antiphoner used as covers: 1520.

Bindings ENGLISH: Vellum leaves from printed antiphoner (1519-1520) used as cover: mid. 17th cent.

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.

Printed Matter: Leaves from a Paris antiphoner used as binding: 1520.

includes:

• ff. 7-10b England; Privy Council: Petitions to, against the Merchant Adventurers: 1576: Copies.
• ff. 7-24b Trade and Commerce: Papers rel. a dispute between merchants trading with Spain and the Merchant Adventurers: 1576.
• ff. 7-24b Netherlands, General: Papers rel. English ships seized at Flushing: 1576.
• ff. 7-24b Philip II of Spain: Papers rel. a dispute between English merchants trading with, and the Merchant Adventurers: 1576.
• ff. 7-24b Company of Merchant Adventurers: Papers rel. a dispute of, with merchants trading with Spain: 1576.
• ff. 7-24b Flushing: Papers rel. English ships seized at: 1576.
• f. 11b Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• f. 11b William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• f. 11b Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• f. 11b Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• f. 11b Thomas Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex; alias Ratclyffe: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• f. 11b Sir Francis Knollys, KG: Treasurer of the Royal Household: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• f. 11b Sir James Croft, Lord Deputy of Ireland and Controller of the Royal Household: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• ff. 11-11b, 13-13b Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Instructions to, from the Privy Council, on his mission to Flushing: 1576: Signed.
• ff. 11-11b, 13-13b Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln 1572; alias Fiennes: Privy Council instructions signed by: 1576.
• ff. 11-11b, 13-13b England; Privy Council: Instructions to R. Beale, on his mission to Flushing: 1576: Signed.
• ff. 12-12(c), 14-14(b), 15-24b (drafts) Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Examination of, as written in a case involving the Merchant Adventurers: 1576: Signed originals and drafts.
• ff. 25-25b Trade and Commerce: Extracts from treaties temp. Hen. VII-Hen. VIII between England, the Empire and Spain conc. trade: late 16th cent: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 25-25b England General: Extracts from treaties with Spain and the Empire conc. trade, temp. Hen. VII-Hen. VIII: late 16th cent: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 25-25b Treaties: Extracts from treaties temp. Hen. VII-Hen. VIII, conc. trade between England, Spain and the Empire: late 16th cent: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 26-26b Trade and Commerce: Notes on the Papal claim to grant unexplored land: late 16th cent.
• ff. 26-26b Spain, General: Extracts from treaties with England, temp. Hen. VII-Hen. VIII, conc. trade: late 16th cent: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 26-26b Germany, General: Extracts from treaties between England and the Empire conc. trade, temp. Hen. VII-Hen. VIII: late 16th cent: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 27-27b France General: Memorandum on negotiations with England 1558-1564: late 16th cent.
• ff. 27-27b Elizabeth I of England: Memorandum on negotiations with France 1558-1564: late 16th cent.
• ff. 29-29b, 32-32b Company of Merchant Adventurers: Reply to their objections to the incorporation of merchants trading with Spain: 1575-1577.
• ff. 29-29b, 32-32b, 40-43b, 45-45b, 50-50b Spanish Company: Papers conc. the incorporation of: 1574-1577.
• ff. 29-29b, 32-32b, 40-43b, 45-45b, 50-50b Trade and Commerce: Papers conc. the incorporation of the Spanish Company: 1574-1577.
• ff. 30-31b Trade and Commerce: Notes for a paper on the rights of the English to trade with the West Indies: 1588-1595: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 30-31b West Inches: Notes for a paper on the rights of the English to trade with: 1588-1595: Lat. and Engl.
• ff. 34-37b West Inches: Account of the voyage to, in 1598, of Lord Cumberland: 1599.
• ff. 34-37b Richard Robinson, leatherseller; of London: Account of Lord Cumberland's ninth voyage to the West Indies (1598): 1599: Autogr.
• ff. 34-37b Peter Hayburn: Account of Lord Cumberland's ninth voyage to the West Indies, originally compiled by: 1599.
• ff. 34-37b George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland: Account of his voyage in 1598 to the West Indies: 1599.
• ff. 39-39b, 44-44b Elizabeth I of England: Content of her letter to the Doge of Venice: 1585.
• ff. 39-39b, 44-44b Pasquale Cicogna; Doge of Venice: Content of letter to(?), from Elizabeth I: 1585.
• ff. 46-46b, 49-49b Elizabeth I of England: Letter to Philip II of Spain: 1563: Lat: Signed.
• ff. 46-46b, 49-49b Alvaro de la Quadra, Bishop of Aquila; Spanish ambassador to England: Letter of complaint conc., from Qu. Elizabeth to Philip II: 1563: Lat.
• ff. 46-46b, 49-49b Roger Ascham: Letter written and subscribed by, as Latin secretary to Qu. Elizabeth: 1563.
• ff. 46-46b, 49-49b Philip II of Spain: Letter to, from Qu. Elizabeth: 1563: Lat.
• ff. 47-48b Philip II of Spain: Letter to Qu. Elizabeth: 1572: Lat: Signed.
• ff. 47-48b Elizabeth I of England: Letter to, from Philip II of Spain: 1572: Lat.
• f. 48b William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Endorsement by: 1572.
• ff. 51-79b passim Sir Thomas Wilkes, Clerk to the Privy Council: Case against, by Lord Leicester: 1587-1588.
• ff. 51-79b passim Sir John Norris, military commander: Case against, by Lord Leicester: 1587-1588.
• ff. 51-79b passim, 81-85b Thomas Sackville, 1st Baron Buckhurst; 1st Earl of Dorset: Case against, by Lord Leicester: 1587-1588.
• ff. 51-79b, 81-85b Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester: Defence of his conduct in the Netherlands: 1587-1588.
• ff. 51-79b, 81-85b Netherlands, United Provinces: Defence by Lord Leicester of his conduct in: 1587-1588.
• ff. 86-90 Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Memorial to Sir F. Vere: 1598(?): Draft with amendments: Autogr.
• ff. 86-90 Sir Francis Vere, soldier: Privy Council memorial to, to treat with the States General: 1598(?): Draft.
• ff. 86-90 Netherlands, United Provinces: Privy Council memorial to Sir F. Vere, to treat with the States General: 1598(?): Draft.
• ff. 86-90 England; Privy Council: Memorial conc. a debt owed to Lady Walsingham by the States General of the United Provinces: 1598(?): Draft.
• ff. 86-90 Ursula Walsingham, widow of Sir F Walsingham: Privy Council memorial rel. to debt owed to, by the States General: 1598(?): Draft.
• ff. 92-96b Netherlands, United Provinces: Articles proposed by the English, for the treaty of Nonsuch: 1585: Draft.
• ff. 92-99b Elizabeth I of England: Articles proposed by the English for the treaty of Nonsuch: 1585: Draft.
• ff. 92-99b Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Articles for the treaty of Nonsuch amended by: 1585: Draft, with amendments: Autogr.
• ff. 92-99b Treaties: Articles proposed for the treaty of Nonsuch: 1585: Draft.
• ff. 100-109b Elizabeth I of England: Papers conc. negotiations to amend the treaty of Nonsuch: 1588-1590.
• ff. 100-109b Netherlands, United Provinces: Papers conc. negotiations to amend the treaty of Nonsuch: 1588-1590.
• ff. 100-109b Treaties: Papers conc. negotiations to amend the treaty of Nonsuch: 1588-1590.
• ff. 106-108b Sir Thomas Wilkes, Clerk to the Privy Council: Replies of the States General to his propositions: 1590.
• ff. 106b-125, 127b-144b Accounts: Report on accounts of the Treasurers at War in the United Provinces: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 106b-125, 127b-144b Sir Thomas Shirley, Treasurer at War in the Netherlands: Report on his accounts: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 106b-125, 127b-144b Richard Huddleston, alias Hurleston; Treasurer at War in the Netherlands: Report on his accounts: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 106b-125, 127b-144b England; Privy Council: Report to, on accounts of the Treasurers at War in the United Provinces: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 110b-125, 127b-144b Arthur Atye, Secretary to the Earl of Leicester: Report on accounts of the Treasurers at War in the United Provinces: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 110b-125, 127b-144b Sir Henry Killigrew, diplomatist: Report on accounts of the Treasurers at War in the United Provinces: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 110b-125, 127b-144b Netherlands, United Provinces: Report to the Privy Council on accounts of the Treasurers at War in: 1595: Drafts.
• ff. 110b-125, 127b-144b Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Report on accounts of the Treasurers at War in the United Provinces: 1595: Drafts, with amendments: Autogr.
• ff. 145-149b Netherlands, United Provinces: Instructions to W. Davison on his mission to: 1585: Drafts.
• ff. 145-149b William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Instructions to W. Davison: 1585: Draft, with amendments: Autogr.
• ff. 145-149b William Davison, Secretary of State: Instructions to, on his mission to the United Provinces: 1585: Draft.
• f. 150 Arthur Atye, Secretary to the Earl of Leicester: Letter to Lord Burghley(?): 1595: Draft.
• f. 150 Sir Henry Killigrew, diplomatist: Letter to Lord Burghley(?): 1595: Draft.
• f. 150 Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Letter to Lord Burghley(?): 1595: Draft, with amendments: Autogr.
• f. 150 William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Letter to(?), from R. Beale: 1595: Draft.
• ff. 151-152b William Davison, Secretary of State: Letter from Lord Buckhurst to Qu. Elizabeth conc.: 1587: Copy.
• ff. 151-152b Thomas Sackville, 1st Baron Buckhurst; 1st Earl of Dorset: Letter to Qu. Elizabeth: 1587: Copy.
• ff. 151-152b Elizabeth I of England: Correspondence, etc., with Lord Buckhurst: 1587: Partly copies.
• ff. 154-213 John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury: Treatise by R. Beale attacking his proceedings against Puritan ministers: 1585: Draft.
• ff. 154-213 Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Treatise attacking proceedings against Puritan ministers: 1585: Draft.
• ff. 154-213 England, Ecclesiastical History: Treatise by R. Beale attacking proceedings against Puritan ministers: 1585.
• ff. 214-215b Sir Henry Yelverton, Attorney-General: Speech in parliament: 1604.
• ff. 214-215b England; Parliament: Speech by H. Yelverton on the Fortescue-Goodwin election dispute: 1604.
• ff. 216-250b Political Tracts: On peace or war between England and Spain, by J. Atkinson al. Atkins(?): 1603-1604: Copy, mid 17th cent.
• ff. 216-250b John Atkinson, alias Atkins: Treatise by(?), on peace or war between England and Spain: 1603-1604: Copy, mid 17th cent.
• ff. 216-264b Spain, General: Tracts on relations with England and the United Provinces: 1603-1604, 1621: Copies, mid 17th cent.
• ff. 216-267b James I of England: Treatise conc. foreign relations addressed to, etc.,: 1603-1604, 1621: Copies, mid. 17th cent.
• ff. 251-256 Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans: `A Shorte veiwe to bee taken of greate Brittayne and Spayne': 1619: Copies.
• ff. 251-256 Political Tracts: F. Bacon: `A Shorte veiwe to bee taken of greate Brittayne and Spayne': 1619: Copies.
• ff. 251-264b Netherlands, United Provinces: Tracts on relations with England and Spain: 1603-1604, 1621: Copies, mid 17th cent.
• ff. 256-264b Political Tracts: Philip III of Spain: Tract on the likelihood of war or truce between Spain and the United Provinces: 1621: Copies, 17th cent.
• ff. 264b-267b Political Tracts: Treatise on freeing the Palatinate by arms: c. 1620: Copies, mid 17th cent.
• ff. 264b-267b Frederick V; Elector Palatine of the Rhine; King of Bohemia: Treatise on freeing the Palatinate by arms: c. 1620: Copies, mid 17th cent.
• ff. 271-302 England, Ecclesiastical History: Summary of treatise by R. Beale(?), opposing proceedings against Puritan ministers: 1585(?).
• ff. 271-302 Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Summary of treatise by(?), conc. proceedings against Puritan ministers: 1585(?): Draft, with amendments: Autogr.
• ff. 306-309b England, Ecclesiastical History: Treatise opposing the claim of the Irish clergy for a commission of justice: c. 1619.
• ff. 306-309b Ireland: Treatise opposing the claim of the Irish clergy for a commission of justice: c. 1619.
• ff. 310-331 James I of England: `Discourse of trade' addressed to: 1622.
• ff. 310-331 Trade and Commerce: `Discourse of trade': 1622.
• ff. 334-336b Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford 1640: Documents from English Privy Council registers rel. his propositions for the administration of Ireland: 1632: Contemporary copies.
• ff. 334-336b England; Privy Council: Documents from the registers of, rel. propositions of Lord Wentworth for the administration of Ireland: 1632: Contemporary copies.
• ff. 334-336b Ireland: Documents from English Privy Council registers rel. Lord Wentworth's propositions for the administration of: 1632: Contemporary copies.
• ff. 338-345b William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Letter to, from R. Beale: 1595: Draft.
• ff. 338-345b Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Letter to Lord Burghley: 1595: Draft, with amendments: Autogr.
• ff. 346-355 Exchequer: Treatise `The fourme or patron of a chessebord': 16th cent: Lat. and Engl: Two copies.
• ff. 359-359(d) Company of Merchant Adventurers: Legal opinion on the right of the Senate of Hamburg not to renew a concordat with: 1578-1579: Lat.
• ff. 359-359(d) City of Hamburg: Legal opinion on the right of the Senate not to renew a concordat with the Merchant Adventurers: 1578-1579: Lat.
• ff. 359-359(d) Trade and Commerce: Legal opinion on the right of the Senate of Hamburg not to renew a concordat with the Merchant Adventurers: 1578-1579: Lat.