Stowe MS 155

COLLECTION of State papers, letters, and miscellaneous documents, many of which relate to the Civil War and the affairs of the Commonwealth; 1564-1760. The letters at the end relate to literature and kindred subjects, and several of them are addressed to Dr. John Hill, Apothecary, etc., who acquired notoriety as a playwriter and literary critic. The contents are:-

1. " A List of severall Consultations amongst the Cardinalls, Bishops and others of the severall orders of Rome now a contriveing and conspireing against her Gracious Majesty and the Established Church of England "; preceded by a letter from E. Dennum to -, enclosing the same for Qu. Elizabeth, dated Venice, 13 Apr. 1564. f. 2. Found, according to the heading, "amongst several Memorials of the L^d Cecills (sc. Burghley's) transcribed out of a Booke of his, being lent unto mee by John King, Minister and Deane of Tuam, Anno 1656"; and the present copy was "extracted from a manuscript in the honble Mr. Bridges Library (sc. James Brydges, cr. Earl of Carnarvon 1714, and Duke of Chandos 1719), London, May 8th, 1712." The MS. referred to is now Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 4784, one of the collection of Sir James Ware, which subsequently belonged to Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon, and to the above Duke of Chandos. The original is in the hand of Robert Ware, son of Sir James; and the paper was printed by him in Foxes and Firebrands, 2nd Part, Dublin, 1682, p. 49. It was probaly concocted by himself, though purporting to be an extract made by his father, and inserted by him among the latter's papers to give it more authenticity.

2. " A memorandum taken out of Sr Henry Sidney his Book called y^e Romish Policies, numb. 6, Pa. 37, in fol. a MSS. with Archb^p Usher ": relating to overtures from Calvin in 1549 for union with the English Church. f. 9. Taken from Bridges MS. xliv. (now Brit. Mus. Add. 4791, 38), 12 Sept. 1712, and of the same origin as the preceding art., being printed in Foxes and Firebrands, 2nd Part, p. 11.

3. Warrant from Qu. Elizabeth to John Fortescue, Master of the Great Wardrobe, for delivery to Edward Wyngate, " Clerk of the Checque of our Garde," of £219 for " provisyon of cloathe for Watchinge Lyveryes," to Sir Christopher Hatton, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Captain of the Guard, and to 205 yeomen grooms and pages of the Chamber, whose names are given; " At our Honor of Hampton," 6 Nov. 1574. Signed at the top by the Queen, and at the foot by Edward Wyngate; with paper signet. Vellum. f 11.

4. [Sir] Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State, to Edward Balshe, " generall surveiour of the Quenes mat". victualles for the sea causes," directing him that besides victualling " for two monthes for ix^c-. men in The Revenge, The Dreadnought, the Swiftsuer, and the Foresight," he is to victual for 50 men one of the Queen's pinnaces called the Achates; Greenwich, 11 Aug. 1579. Signed. f. 13.

5. Thomas Ferrers to his brother Sir Humphrey Ferrers, of Walton, giving an account of the operations of Count Maurice in Flanders, and his defeat of the Archduke Albert's forces at Nieuport, with news from Ireland, France, and Spain; London, 27 June, 1600. Added is a list of prisoners taken by Count Maurice, and of the principal officers slain at the battle of Nieuport, 1 July. ff. 15, 16.

6. Cardinal Arnaud D'Ossat to Henry IV. of France, on the designs of Spain and the Pope for marrying Card. Farnese and Lady Arabella Stuart, and securing to them the succession of the English crown on Qu. Elizabeth's death; Rome, 26 Nov. 1601. Translation. Imperf. The original is printed in Lettres du Card. D'Ossat, Amsterdam, 1708. f. 18.

7. Orders concerning the Church of Ireland, its free schools, endowments, etc.; 3 Feb. 1623 [4]. f. 39. See Calendar of State Papers rel. to Ireland, 1615-1625, pp. 416, 458.

8. Christian IV. of Denmark to Sir John Coke, Secretary of State, in favour of Pallas Rosencrantz, Ambassador to England; Copenhagen, 28 Oct. 1628. Signed. Lat. f. 49.

9. Warrant from Henry, Due de Montmorenci, Admiral of France, etc., for John Johnson Mol, as Captain of " the Hope," to sail to the East Indies under the direction of a French Company licensed by the King of France, with the name of " the Fleete of Montmorancy "; [1614-1632]. Translation. f. 51.

10. Transcripts of State papers relating to the government of Ireland, taken " out of a folio in the Kings Paper Office indorsed in gold letters Instructions No. 7," viz. (a) Instructions for Adam [Loftus], Viscount Loftus of Ely, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Richard [Boyle], Earl of Cork, as Lord Justices of Ireland; Oatlands, 10 Aug. 1629. Two copies, and conclusion of a third. f 56;-(b) List of the Army, Horse and Foot, in Ireland, viz. names of the commanding officers and numbers of the men; [l629]. f. 68 b ;-(c) Instructions of the Commissioners of Ireland to Hugh Peter to arrange at Liverpool and other ports for the transport and victualling of troops for Ireland, etc.; Chester, 2 Nov. 1646. f 69b.

11. Thomas Leveson, Sheriff of co. Stafford, to the Constables of Burton-on-Trent and Tatenhill, ordering them to raise 24 men for the King's service; 17 Jan. 1643 [4]. Copy. f. 71.

12. Report by the Deputy Lieutenants for co. Chester to the Committee for Sequestrations, on the case of Henry Vernon, of Haslington, an alleged delinquent; Nantwich, 15 Mar. 1644 [5]. Copy. f 72.

13. Articles agreed upon by Sir John Gell, Parliamentary Governor of Derby, and Lt.-Col. Peter Kniveton, Royalist Governor of Tutbury Castle, "touchinge the deliverie of Tutburie Castle"; Tutbury, 6 Apr. 1646. f 73.

14. " The Committee of both Kingedomes " to Sir William Brereton, objecting to the articles made by Sir John Gell and Col. P. Kniveton for the surrender of Tutbury [v. prec. art.], and commissioning him and three others to treat with Kniveton; Derby House, 10 April, 1646. Copy. f 75.

15. Articles agreed upon by Sir W. Brereton and his fellow Commissioners with Col. Kniveton for the surrender of Tutbury; 19, 20 April, 1646. Copy. ff. 77, 79.

16. Ordinance of the Parliament for settling the form of Church Government in England and Ireland; [Aug. 1648]. Printed in Scobell's Acts and Ordinances, London, 1658. f. 80.

17. Order for the sequestration of four-fifths of the estate of Timothy Startin of Uttoxeter; 23 Jan. 1650 [1]. Signed by [Sir] J[ohn] Danvers and John Peirce, for the Commissioners for sequestrations for co. Stafford. f. 86.

18. Summonses to Henry Vernon, of Haslington and Hilton Hall, to appear before the Commissioners " for securing of the peace of the Commonwealth " for co. Stafford; 1653-1655. ff. 87-90.

19. Petition of Henry Vernon of Haslington to the Lord Protector'. n. d. Draft. f. 91.

20. Letters to the Rev. Edward Vernon, Rector of Redmile, co. Leic., from:-Jo[hn Hough, Bishop of] Oxon; Magdalen College, Oxford, 24 Sept. 1696. f. 92;-E[dward] Chandler, Prebendary [aft. Bishop] of Lichfield; Whitehall, 20 Feb. 1699 [1700]. f. 93;-

John Potter [D.D., Bishop of Oxford 1715, Archbishop of Canterbury 1737]; Lambeth, 5 Au-. 1707. f. 95;-K[atherine, widow of John Manners, Duke of] R[utland]; n. d. f. 102.

21. [Sir] Samuel Garth, M.D., to [? Jacob Tonson]; n. d. On the other side is a letter from Jacob Tonson to -, 22 Nov. 1715, relating perhaps to the translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses by Dryden, Garth, and others. f. 97.

22. Lines to Sir S. Garth, on his being made Physician to the King, beg. "Thou British Prince of soft harmonious lays"; 1715. Attributed, in another hand, to Rev. Edward Yei-non, Rector of Redmile. f 98.

23. [Rev.] E[dward] Vernon to Hon. Elizabeth Noel, forwarding "Verses upon a Knot"; Walcot, n.d. f.100.

24. Thomas Hearne, antiquary, to Robert New, of the Middle Temple, thanking him for the gift of some fragments of old MSS. and printed books from the collection of Peter le Neve, Norroy, with remarks on Trogus Pompeius; Edmund Hall, Oxford, 3 May, 1731. f 103.

25. Thomas Carte, historian, to -, on the binding of his MSS., etc.; Winchmore Hill, 1 Aug. 1736. f 105. Followed by notes in Carte's handwriting on early British History, and a letter relating to him from Andrew Lumisden, Edinburgh, 13 March, 1739 [40]. ff. 107, 109.

26. Jo[hn Hough, Bishop of] Worcester to -; Hartlebury, 25 July, 1742. f 111.

27. [Charles Lennox, Duke of] Richmond, to Dr. John Hill; Goodwood, 26 Nov. 1742. f 112;-to the same, thanking him for the promise of his vote and interest at the Westminster election, "'Tis the honest old Whig cause I recommend to you in oposition to the Jacobite schemes, and I make no doubt butt you will agree with me in it"; Whitehall, 15 June, 1747. f 116.

28. [Capt.] Thomas Coram, Founder of the Foundling Hospital, to the Steward of the Hospital, to admit a visitor; [4 May, 1747]. f 114.

29. H[enrietta] Cavendish Holles [Wife of Edward Harley, Earl of] Oxford, to her servant Joseph Lockwood; 19 Oct. 1748. f. 118.

30. [John Boyle, Earl of] Orrery, to Paul Vaillant, bookseller, on a review of his Letters of Pliny; Leicester Fields, 25 Apr. 1751. f. 119;-to Dr. John Hill; n. d. f. 121.

31. [John] Henley, " Orator," to the same, as Editor of The Inspector; n. d. f. 123.

32. [Sir] John Fielding, Knt. [to the Editor of The Inspector], on the benefits of the Universal Register Office, of which Fielding was one of the proprietors; 10 Nov. [1751 ?]. f 124.

33. Spranger Barry, actor, to Dr. [John] Hill; 11 Nov. 1751. f. 125.

34. John Roberts, secretary to Henry Pelham, lst Lord of the Treasury, [to Dr. Hill], saying that Mr. Pelham declines to have his name prefixed to a volume of The Inspector; 26 Jan. 1753. f. 127.

35. W[illiam] Warburton [Bishop of Gloucester, 1759] to [Dr. Hill], to the same effect; 28 Jan. [1753]. f. 129.

36. Theophilus Cibber, actor, to [? Dr. Hill], asking him to write a Prologue for his benefit, when he will represent the play " The Careless Husband," and " to recommend it to the good nature of the Town, etc. "; 14 June, 1753. f 130.

37. Sentence pronounced against Augustine Mayans and others at Minorca; 16, 22 Sept. 1758. Lat. Authenticated copy , with seal of State. f. 132.

38. [William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of] Portland, to Joseph Lockwood, relative to an appointment in the British Museum; Bulstrode, 10 Jan. 1759. f 134.

39. Notarial instrument relating to a contract between Anthony

Wapperom, stonecutter, and Johann Ecksteyn, sculptor; Hague, 24 Apr. 1760. Dutch. f 135.

40. J[ohn] Banks to -; New College, Oxford, 25 June, s. a. f 138. Paper; ff. 139. On the covers are stamped the arms of Cotton, of the family of Sir Robert Cotton, founder of the Cotton Library, the leather having been stripped from an earlier volume. Folio.

John de S. Laurentio, Prebendary of London: Witness: [1218-22].

includes:

• covers Cotton family: Arms.
• f. 1 E- Dennum: Letter to -: 1564.
• f. 2 Robert Ware: Consultations of Roman Catholics against the Church of England, 1564, from a MS. written by.
• f. 2 Roman Catholics: Consultations of Romish Orders against Qu. Elizabeth and the Church of England: 1564.
• f. 2 England, Ecclesiastical History: Consultations of Roman Catholics against the English Church: 1564.
• f. 9 John Calvin: Memorandum on his overtures for union with the English Church: 1549.
• f. 9 Colonel Henry Sydney, Viscount Sydney (1689) and Earl of Romney (1694) Envoy to Holland; Secretary of State: Memorandum from his book, " the Romish Policies": 17th cent.
• f. 9 England, Ecclesiastical History: Memorandum on Calvin's overtures for union: 1549.
• f. 11 Household, Royal: Warrant for liveries for Yeomen of the Guard, etc.: 1574.
• f. 11 Sir Christopher Hatton: Warrant for livery to, as Captain of the Guard, etc.: 1574.
• f. 11 Sir John Fortescue, Chancellor of the Exchequer: Orders to, as Master of the Great Wardrobe: 1564, 1574.
• f. 11 Elizabeth I of England: Warrants to the Master of the Great Wardrobe: 1564, 1574.: Signed.
• f. 11 Edward Wyngate: Delivery of yeomen's liveries to, " Clerk of the Checque of our Garde," with his signature: 1574.
• f. 13 Edward Balshe: Directions to, as Victualler of the Navy: 1579.
• f. 13 Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Directions for victualling the "Revenge" and other ships: 1579.
• f. 13 Navy; England: Directions for victualling The Revenge, Dreadnought, Swiftsure, Foresight and Achates: 1579.
• f. 15 Thomas Ferrers: Correspondence with his brother, Sir H. Ferrers: 1598-1605.
• f. 16 Nieuwpoort, Flanders: Account of the battle of, with list of prisoners and slain: 1600.
• f. 16 Maurice, Princes of Orange; Count of Nassau: Account of his operations and defeat at Nieuport: 1600.
• f. 16 Flanders: Account of Count Maurice's operations in: 1600.
• f. 18 Lady Arabella Stuart: Designs for marrying her to Card. Farnese: 1601.
• f. 18 Philip II of Spain: Letter on the design of, as to the succession to the English crown: 1601.
• f. 18 Arnaud de Ossat, Cardinal 1598: Letter to Henry IV., of France: 1601.
• f. 18 Henry IV of France: Letter to, from Card. D'Ossat, on the design to marry Card. Farnese with Lady A. Stuart: 1601.: Imperf.
• f. 18 Odoardo Farnese, Cardinal: Design for marrying him to Lady A. Stuart: 1601.
• f. 18 Elizabeth I of England: Design to secure the crown on the death of, to Lady Arabella Stuart: 1601.
• f. 18 Clement VIII; Pope: Designs to secure the English Crown to Card. Farnese by marr. with Lady A. Stuart: 1601.
• f. 22 Sir Samuel Garth, d 1719 physician and poet: Lines to, on his being made Physician to the king: 1715.
• f. 39 Ireland: Order concerning the church, schools, etc., of: 1624.
• f. 49 Pallas Rosencrantz: Letter in favour of, as Danish Ambassador to England: 1628.
• f. 49 Sir John Coke, Secretary of State: Letter to, from Christian IV. of Denmark: 1628.
• f. 49 Christian IV of Denmark: Letter to Sir J. Coke: 1628.: Lat.: Signed.
• f. 51 India: Warrant concerning the Duc de Montmorenci's Company for the E. Indies: 1614-32.
• f. 51 Henri de Montmorency, Duke of Montmorency; Marshal and Constable of France: Warrant, as Admiral, concerning his French company for the East Indies: [1614-32].
• f. 51 John Johnson Mol: Warrant to, as Captain of " the Hope," sailing to the East Indies: [1614-1632].
• f. 56 Adam Loftus, Viscount Loftus of Ely: Instructions for, as Lord Justice of Ireland: 1629.: Copy.
• f. 56 Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork: Instructions for, as Lord Justice of Ireland: 1629.
• ff. 56-69 b Ireland: Papers concerning the government of: 1629-1646.
• f. 68 b Ireland: List of the army in: 1629.
• f. 69 b Hugh Peter: Instructions to, for transport, etc., of troops for Ireland: 1646.
• f. 71 Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire: Order from the Sheriff for raising troops in: 1644.
• f. 71 Thomas Leveson: Letter, as Sheriff of Stafford, to the Constables of Burton and Tatenhill: 1644.: Copy.
• f. 71 Tatenhill, Staffordshire: Sheriff's order for raising troops in: 1644.
• f. 72 Henry Vernon, of Haslington: Report on his alleged delinquency: 1645.
• ff. 73-79 Sir John Gell: Articles by, as Governor of Derby, conc. the delivery of Tutbury Castle: 1646.
• ff. 73-79 Charles I of England: Articles for the surrender of Tutbury: 1646.
• ff. 73-79 Tutbury, Staffordshire: Articles concerning the surrender of: 1646.
• ff. 73-79 Peter Kniveton, Lieutenant -Colonel: Articles, as Governor of Tutbury, conc. the delivery of the Castle: 1646.
• ff. 75-79 Sir William Brereton, Baronet: Articles with the Governor of Tutbury for its surrender: 1646.
• f. 80 Charles I of England: Ordinance of Parliament for settling Church Government: 1648.
• f. 80 Ireland: Ordinance for settling the form of church government in: 1648.
• f. 86 John Peirce: Order signed by, as Commissioner for sequestrations for co. Staff.: 1651.
• f. 86 Sir John Danvers: Order signed by, as Commissioner for Sequestrations in co. Staff.: 1651.
• f. 86 Timothy Startin, of Uttoxeter: Order for sequestration of his estate: 1651.
• ff. 87-91 Henry Vernon, of Haslington: Summons to, and petition to the Lord Protector by: 1653-1655.
• f. 91 Oliver Cromwell of England: Petition to, from H. Vernon: circ. 1655.
• f. 92 John Hough, Bishop of Worcester: Letter to Rev. E. Vernon: 1696.
• ff. 92, 93, 95, 102 Reverend Edward Vernon, Rector of Redmile: Letters to, from Bp. Hough and others: 1696-1707.
• f. 93 Edward Chandler, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and (1730) of Durham: Letter to Rev. E. Vernon: 1700.
• f. 95 John Potter, Archbishop of Canterbury: Letter to Rev. E. Vernon: 1707.
• f. 97 Sir Samuel Garth, d 1719 physician and poet: Letter to J. Tonson (?): 1715.
• f. 97 b Jacob Tonson, Publisher: Letter to -: 1715.
• f. 98 Reverend Edward Vernon, Rector of Redmile: Lines to Sir S. Garth, attributed to: 1715.
• f. 98 Poetry: Lines to Sir S. Garth, by Rev. E. Vernon: 1715.
• f. 100 Hon Elizabeth Noel: Letter and verses to, by Rev. E. Vernon: 1715.
• f. 100 Reverend Edward Vernon, Rector of Redmile: Letter and verses to Hon. E. Noel: n.d.
• f. 100 Poetry: "Verses on a Knot," by Rev. E. Vernon: n.d.
• f. 102 Katharine Manners, widow of John, Duke of Rutland: Letter to Rev. E. Vernon: n.d.
• f. 103 Pompeius Trogus: Remarks on his works: 1731.
• f. 103 Robert New, of the Middle Temple: Letter to, from T. Hearne: 1731.
• f. 103 Thomas Hearne, antiquary: Letter to R. New: 1731.
• f. 105 Thomas Carte, historian: Letter to - with historical notes, etc.: 1736.
• f. 107 England General Chronicles and History: Notes on early British history, by T. Carte: 1736.
• f. 109 Andrew Lumisden: Letter to J. Cooke: 1740.
• f. 111 John Hough, Bishop of Worcester: Letter to -: 1742.
• ff. 112, 116 Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and Lennox: Letters to Dr. J. Hill: 1742.
• ff. 112, 116, 121-130 Dr John Hill: Letters to, chiefly as editor of The Inspector: 1742-1753.
• f. 114 Captain Thomas Coram, Founder of the Foundling Hospital: Letter of admission for a visitor: 1747.
• f. 118 Henrietta Cavendish Harley, daughter of John, Duke of Newcastle, and wife of Edward, 2nd Earl of Oxford: Letter to J- Lockwood: 1748.
• f. 119 Paul Vaillant, bookseller, of London; nephew of Isaac Vaillant: Letter to, from Lord Orrery: 1751.
• ff. 119, 121 John Boyle, 5th Earl of Orrery: Letters to P. Vaillant and Dr. J. Hill: 1751.
• f. 123 John Henley, Orator: Letter to Dr. J. Hill: n.d.
• f. 124 Sir John Fielding: Letter to Dr. J. Hill: 1751 (?).
• f. 125 Spranger Barry, Actor: Letter to Dr. J. Hill: 1751.
• f. 127 Hon Henry Pelham, Prime Minister: Letter from his Secretary to the Editor of " The Inspector ": 1753.
• f. 127 John Roberts: Letter, as secretary to H. Pelham, to Dr. J. Hill: 1753.
• f. 129 William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester 1759: Letter to Dr. Hill: 1753.
• f. 130 Drama: "The Careless Husband," represented by T. Cibber: 1753.
• f. 130 Theophilus Cibber, actor; son of Colley Cibber: Letter to Dr. Hill: 1753.
• f. 134 Joseph Lockwood: Letter to, from the Duke of Portland: 1759.
• f. 134 Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland: Letter to J. Lockwood: 1759.
• f. 135 Anthony Wapperom, Stonecutter: Contract with J. Ecksteyn, sculptor: 1760.: Dutch.
• f. 135 Johann Ecksteyn, sculptor: Contract with A. Wapperom, stone cutter: 1760.: Dutch.
• f. 138 John Banks: Letter to -: 18th cent.