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Stowe MS 76

Record Id:

040-001952858

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

032-001952775

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100000000493.0x000262

LARK:

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

Stowe MS 76

Title:

Scope & Content:

"GESTA BRITANNICA, præsortim Anglorum, adjectis aliquot observationibus, maxime in iis quæ, ad ecclesiam a temporibus retroactis ad A.D. mdcxlviii [Jan. 1648/9] spectant."The work, which is apparently autograph, is divided into ten books, the last three (ff. 211b-362) containing the reigns of James I. and Charles I. The author states (f. 261b) that he began the reign of Charles, "luctuosam hanc historiæ partem," on 18 June, 1660; and at the end of the index (the greater part of which is torn out) is the colophon "Finis, Deo gratias, April 28, 1664, anno ætatis 70." From marginal notes on ff. 227b, 228b, it may be inferred that he survived the fire of London in 1666. His name is not given; but he calls himself (f. 242) a native of Cheshire, and he was ordained priest by the Bishop of London on 31 May, 1618 (f. 245). He mentions (f. 268b) "nostra ecclesia de Shoreditch," expresses his gratitude (f. 262) for his preservation in the plague of 1625, "licet ad coetus ot sepulchra ratione officii præsentem," and quotes from memory (f. 327b) a speech by Laud, as Bishop of London, to his clergy on the subject of the Eucharist. He gives also (f. 314) a full account of the imprisonment by the Parliament of John Squire (ob. 1653), Vicar of St. Leonard's Shoreditch, in 1642, styling him "amicus Sincerus, eum quo multam ætatem consumpsi"; and he incidentally refers (f. 342) to his own release from confinement in the house of Lord Petre, where his place was taken (30 Sept. 1643) by Dr. Daniel Featly, Rector of Lambeth, with whom he was on intimate terms. From the list of priests ordained on 31 May, 1618, contained in the MS. ordination-books of the diocese of London, preserved in St. Paul's Cathedral, he may be identified with Roger Ley, or Lea, M.A., of Jesus College, Cambridge, who is described as "natus apud Crewe, in com. Cestrie, annorum etatis 24 aut eo circiter, constitutus ad curam sci. Leonardi in Shorediche." He was the author of two sermons preached at St. Paul's Cross and published in 1619 and 1622. Although events of general history are recorded, a large proportion of the work deals with questions of doctrine and church discipline. Many of these are discussed at considerable length, such as the Hampton Court Conference, predestination, the observance of the Lord's Day, the innovations of Laud, the agitation against episcopacy, etc. The writer complains bitterly of the treatment of the clergy and the desecration of churches during the Civil War, describing, e.g., as an eye-witness (f. 228b) the condition of St. Paul's Cathedral. Several chapters at the end of each reign contain notices of bishops, divines, and scholars, among whom are the following: — George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, f. 249b. Robert Abbot, Bishop of Salisbury, f. 244b. Lancelot Andrews, Bishop of Winchester, f. 246b. Gervase Babington, Bishop of Worcester, f. 242b. Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, f. 258. Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, f. 242b. William Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln, f. 243b. Thomas Bilson, Bishop of Winchester, f. 243b. Sir Thomas Bodley, f. 257. John Buckeridge, Bishop of Ely, f. 249. William Camden, f. 257b. George Carleton, Bishop of Chichester, f. 248b. Richard Clerke, Canon of Canterbury, f. 341b. John Cowell, Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, f. 257. John Davenant, Bishop of Salisbury, f. 338. Martin Day, Rector of St. Faith, f. 343b. Marc' Antonio de Dominis, Archbishop of Spalatro, f 260b. John Donne, Dean of St. Paul's, f. 252b. George Downham, Bishop of Derry, f. 250b. Daniel Featly, Rector of Lambeth, f. 341b. Francis Godwin, Bishop of Hereford, f. 245. Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, f. 338b. Sir John Hayward, f. 257b. Richard Holdsworth, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, f. 343. Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York, f. 242. John King, Bishop of London, f. 442b. Arthur Lake, Bishop of Bath and Wells, f. 245b. William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, f. 325b. Tobias Matthew, Archbishop of York, f. 249. James Montague, Bishop of Winchester, f. 244b. Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham, f. 341. Sir Henry Savile, f. 259. Richard Senhouse, Bishop of Carlisle, f. 248. Josias Shute, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, f. 344. Nathaniel Shute, Reetor of St. Mildred's, Poultry, f. 344. Edward Simonds, or Symmons, Rector of Rayne, co. Essex, f. 342b. Miles Smith, Bishop of Gloucester, f. 249. Sir Henry Spelman, f. 260. John Spottiswood, Archbishop of St. Andrews, f. 331. Ephraim Udall, Rector of St. Augustine's, London, f. 344. James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, f. 331b. Richard Vaughan, Bishop of London, f. 242. Sir Henry Wotton, f. 259.

Milton is mentioned on f. 301b ("Miltonus quidam laicus, postea regis insignissimus adversarius") as the author of an antiepiscopal pamphlet in answer to Ussher [in 1641]. Paper; ff. 364. Folio.

Roger Ley, Curate of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch: Gesta Britannica, to 1649,: 1664: Autogr.

England General Chronicles and History: Gesta Britannica, to 1649, by R. Lea: 1660-64.: Lat.

England, Ecclesiastical History: History of England to 1649, with special reference to Church matters: 1660-64.: Lat.

includes:

f. 242 Richard Vaughan, Bishop successively of Bangor, Chester and London: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 242 Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 242 b Gervase Babington, Bishop of Worcester: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 242 b Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London (1597) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1604): Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 243 b Dr Thomas Bilson, Bishop successively of Worcester and of Winchester: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 243 b William Barlow, Bishop of Rochester and (1608) of Lincoln: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 244 b Robert Abbot, Bishop of Salisbury: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 244 b John King, d 1621 Bishop of London: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 244 b James Montagu, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and of Winchester: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 245 Francis Godwin, Bishop of Llandaff and (1617) of Hereford: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 245 b Arthur Lake, Bishop of Bath and Wells: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 246 b Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 248 Richard Senhouse, Bishop of Carlisle: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 248 b George Carleton, Bishop of Chichester: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 249 Miles Smith, Bishop of Gloucester: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 249 John Buckeridge, Bishop of Ely: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 249 Tobias Matthew, Bishop of Durham, afterwards Archbishop of York: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 249 b George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 250 b George Downham, Bishop of Derry: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 252 b John Donne, Dean of St Paul's; poet: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 257 John Cowell, LLD, Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and Regius Professor of Civil Law: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 257 Sir Thomas Bodley, diplomatist and scholar: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 257 b Sir John Hayward: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 257 b William Camden, antiquary; Clarenceux King of Arms: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 258 Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 259 Sir Henry Wotton, Ambassador to Venice, and (1623) Provost of Eton: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 259 Sir Henry Savile: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 260 John Stow: Notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 260 Sir Henry Spelman: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 260 b Marco Antonio de Dominis, Archbishop of Spalato: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 260 b John Speed, Annalist: Notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 301 b John Milton: Mentioned: 1660-64.
f. 314 John Squire, Vicar of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch: Account of the imprisonment of: 1642.: Lat.
f. 325 b William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 331 John Spottiswood, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Glasgow: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 331 b James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 338 John Davenant, President of Queen's College, Cambridge, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 338 b Joseph Hall, Bishop of Exeter (1627) and of Norwich (1641): Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 341 Thomas Morton, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and (1632) of Durham: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 341 b Richard Clerke, Canon of Canterbury: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 341 b Daniel Featly, DD, Rector of Lambeth and Acton, and Principal of Chelsea College: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 342 b Edward Simonds, Rector of Rayne, county Essex: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 343 Richard Holdworth, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge: Biographical notice: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 343 b Martin Day, Rector of St. Faith's, London: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 344 Josias Shute, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 344 Nathaniel Shute, Rector of St. Mildred's, Poultry, London: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.
f. 344 Ephraim Udall, Rector of St. Augustine's, London: Biographical notice of: 17th cent.: Lat.

Collection Area:

Western Manuscripts

Project / Collection:

Stowe Collection

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-001952775
036-001952833
037-001952839
040-001952858

Is part of:

Stowe Ms 1-1085 : Stowe Manuscripts
Stowe MS 54-310 : CLASS IV.HISTORY.
Stowe MS 58-83 : SECT. II. — ENGLISH.

Stowe MS 76 : "GESTA BRITANNICA, præsortim Anglorum, adjectis aliquot observationibus, maxime in iis quæ, ad ecclesiam a temporibus retroactis…

Hierarchy:

032-001952775[0004]/036-001952833[0002]/037-001952839[0019]/040-001952858

Container:

View / search within Archive / Collection: Stowe Ms 1-1085

Record Type (Level):

File

Extent:

1 item

Digitised Content:

Languages:

English
Latin

Scripts:

Latin

Start Date:

1660

End Date:

1664

Date Range:

18 Jun 1660-28 Apr 1664

Era:

Access:

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Legal Status:

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