Stowe MS 156

TRANSCRIPTS Of State papers and political tracts; circ. 1565-1629. The contents are :-

1. A conference between William Axton, minister of Morton-Corbet, co. Salop, and [Thomas Bentham] Bishop of Lichfield, Thomas Bickley, Chancellor of Lichfield, and others, on the use of the surplice, the practice of the signing of the Cross at Baptism, etc., followed by Axton's examination before the Bishop and Chancellor in the Consistory at Lichfield on 22nd November; circ. 1565. f 3.

2. Proceedings in Council on the question of the King's right of granting Commendams; 6 July, 1616. See Spedding, Works of Francis Bacon, etc., 1872, xii. p. 357. f. 29 b.

3. Report of the Council on the case of Sir Edward Coke, 6 [26] June, 1616; followed by the King's decision thereon and the penalties imposed on Coke, 30 June, 1616. Printed in Peek's Desiderata Curiosa, Lib. vi., nos. vi. vii. f 39 b.

4. Proclamation against Popish Recusants in co. York; circ. 1604. f 44.

5. Letter from James VI. of Scotland to [- Hambleton], asserting that, "howsoever it shall please God lawfully to possesse " him with this crown of England, he will " not only mainteyne and continew y^e profession of ye Gospell there, but wth all not suffer or permitt any other Religion to be professed"; [1600-1]. f. 44 b.

6. Warrant for the setting at liberty from the Tower of [Henry Wriothesley] Earl of Southampton and Sir Henry Neville, Knt., imprisoned for participation in Essex's Rebellion; Holyrood House, 5 Apr. 1603. f. 45.

7. Speech of the Lord Chancellor [Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere] to Sir Henry Mountague, on his appointment as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, 18 Nov. 1616; with Sir Henry's reply. f 46.

8. Letter of Matthew [Hutton, Archbishop of] York, to Robert Cecil, Viscount Cranborne, in answer to the Council's letter for suppression of the Puritans and on the increase and confidence of the Papists; Bishopthorpe, 18 Dec. 1604. Printed in Strype, Life of Whitgift, iii. p. 420. f 50.

9. George Blackwell, Archpriest of the English Catholics, to his Assistants, Priests, and Catholics in England, condemning the Gunpowder Plot; 28 [Nov.] 1605. f 51 b.

10. Henoch Clapham, imprisoned on a charge of increasing the panic caused by the Plague, to Henry, Prince of Wales; 1st June [1604], " being ye 29th weeke from my first commitment." f 52 b.

11. The same to [Richard Bancroft] Bishop of London, accusing him of injustice in committing him to prison, and of leniency towards the Papists: " Your proceeding with Papists is noted generally to be wonderfully much easy, and nothing so harsh as with paynfull prechers of ye Gospell "; " Gate-house," 29 Apr. [1604]. f. 56 b.

12. James I. to the United Provinces, concerning the Arminians; Hitchingbrooke [Hinchinbrook], 20 March, 1617 [8]. f. 57 b.

13. Account of a voyage by James Barker, gent., and four others, who sailed from the Summer Islands " in a Boate made of cedar... of 2 tons " on 27 July, 1617, and landed on the coast of Ireland 13 or 14 September. f. 59.

14. " A mistery of the Jesuits " [v. f. 1 b], printed under the title of The Hellish and horribble Councell practised and used by the Jesuites . . . when they would have a man to murther a King, etc., London, 1610. Compare also The Black Box of Rome, 1641. A note by the transcriber at the end of the tract runs, " Translated out of ye French coppy. This incouragement was given to y^t Jesuite who killed ye King of France" [Henry IV.], 1610. f. 60.

15. Instructions to Sir John Digby to treat with Spain for a marriage between Pr. Charles and the Infanta Maria; 16 Apr. 1617. f. 61.

16. Speech of the Lord Keeper [John Williams, Dean of Westminster, aft. Bishop of Lincoln] " at ye meeting of y^e L^s. and other Commissioners for ye subsidies at Guild-Hall "; 30 July, 1621. f. 62 b.

17. Letter concerning ye Protestants in France leaving their country, " written per Mr. Salsbury " [f. 1 b] ; 12 Dec. 1621. f. 6 6.

18. " A short view of y^e Reigne of King Henry y^e third " by Sir Robert Cotton, Bart.; temp Jas. 1. Printed in Lord Somers' Second Collection of Tracts, and elsewhere. f 68.

19. Relation of the negotiation for the marriage of Pr. Henry with " y^e elder daughter of Spain and afterwards wth y^e yonger," said on f. 1 b to have been written by Sir John Digby to the Lord Fenton; 1611. Printed in Gutch's Collectanea Curiosa, where, however, it is attributed to Sir Charles Cornwallis and addressed to Sir John Digby. f. 80 b.

20. James I. to his son-in-law, Frederick, Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia; 20 Nov. 1623. f 95. Followed by Frederick's reply; Hague, 30/20 Dec. 1623. f 97.

21. Speech of Sir Benjamin Rudyerd to the House of Commons, on the Spanish treaties for the marriage and the restoration of the Palatinate; [March, 1623/4]. Cf. Gardiner, History of England, v. pp. 189, 190. f 102 b.

22. Letter from [Philip IV.] King of Spain to [Gaspar de Guzman] Conde de Olivares, with the latter's reply, on the marriage of Pr. Charles with the Infanta Maria; [1623]. f 105.

23. " Robert Dudley, Erle of Leicester, his life and government, commonly called his Common Wealth, 1584." f 109.

24. Petition of Sir John Eliot, '" prisoner in y^e gatehouse, concerning the Loane" to the King; 1627. f. 205.

25. Speech of Sir Francis Seymour in Parliament, in the Debate on public grievances; 22 March, 1627 [8]. f 207 b.

26. " The dangers wherin ye Kingdom nowstandeth and ye remedies therof," by Sir Robert Cotton, Bart.; temp . Jas . 1. Printed in Cotton's Posthuma. f 209.

27. Proceedings in Parliament related to the King at the Council, 4 Apr. 1621, with the Duke of Buckingham's speech to the King. f 215.

28. Speech of Francis Rouse in the House of Commons against Popery and Arminianism; 26 Jan. 1628 [9]. f. 216 b.

29. Speeches of Sir John Eliot and John Selden in the House of Commons against Popery and Arminianism; [2] March, 1628[9]. Cf. Gardiner's History of England, vii. 71, 72. f 218.

30. Bill exhibited by Sir Robert Heath, Attorney General, in the Star Chamber against the Earls of Bedford, Somerset, Clare, and others; Nov. 1629 .Imperfect. f. 219 Paper; ff. 236. xviith cent. Small Quarto.

includes:

• f. 3 Thomas Bentham, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, d. 1579: Conference on ritual: circ. 1565.
• f. 3 Thomas Bickley, Chancellor of Lichfield and (1585) Bishop of Chichester: Conference on ritual: circ. 1565.
• f. 3 William Axton, Minister of Morton-Corbet: Conference with Bp. Bentham on ritual: circ. 1565.
• f. 3 Church Discipline: Conference on use of the surplice, signing of the cross at Baptism, etc.: circ. 1565.
• f. 3 England, Ecclesiastical History: Conference on the use of the surplice, etc.: circ. 1565.
• f. 29 b England, Ecclesiastical History: Council proceedings on the King's right of granting Commendams: 1616.
• f. 29 b James I of England: Proceedings on his right of granting Commendams: 1616.
• f. 39 b Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice: Proceedings against: 1616.
• f. 44 Roman Catholics: Proclamation against Popish Recusants in co. York: circ. 1604.
• f. 44 b Hambleton: Letter to, from James VI. of Scotland: 1601.
• f. 44b James VI of Scotland: Letter promising to maintain the English religion: 1601.: Copy.
• f. 45 Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton: Warrant for his release from the Tower: 1603.: Copies.
• f. 45 Sir Henry Neville: Warrant for his release from the Tower: 1603.
• f. 46 Thomas Egerton, 1st Baron Ellesmere; 1st Viscount Brackley: Speech on the appointment of Sir H. Mountague as Lord Ch. Justice: 1616.
• f. 46 Sir Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester: Speeches on his appointment as Lord Ch. Justice: 1616.
• f. 50 Robert Cecil, Viscount Cranborne; 1st Earl of Salisbury: Letter to, from Archbp. Hutton: 1604.
• f. 50 Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York: Letter to Visct. Cranbourne: 1604.: Copy.
• f. 50 England, Ecclesiastical History: Letter of Archbp. Hutton on the suppression of the Puritans and increase of papists: 1604.
• f. 51 b George Blackwell, Archpriest of the R C Secular Clergy in England: Letter condemning the Gunpowder plot: 1605.: Copy.
• f. 51 b James I of England: Letter of G. Blackwell on the Gunpowder Plot: 1605.
• f. 52 b Henry, Princes of Wales: Letter to, from H. Clapham: 1604.
• ff. 52 b, 56 b Henoch Clapham: Letters to Henry, Prince of Wales, and Bp. Bancroft: 1604.: Copies.
• f. 56 b Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London (1597) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1604): Letter to, from H. Clapham: 1604.
• f. 57 b James I of England: Letter to the United Provinces: 1618.: Copy.
• f. 57 b Arminians, The: Letter of James I. concerning: 1618.
• f. 57 b Netherlands, United Provinces: Correspondence of the States-General with James I.: 1618-1623.: Copies.
• f. 59 Summer Islands: J. Barker's voyage from: 1617.
• f. 59 Voyages and Travels: Account of J. Barker's voyage from the Summer Islands to Ireland: 1617.
• f. 59 James Barker: Account of his voyage from the Summer Islands to Ireland: 1617.
• f. 60 Orders Religious. Jesuits: "A mystery of the Jesuits ": 1610.
• f. 60 Political Tracts: "A mistery of the Jesuits ": 1610.
• f. 61 Philip II of Spain: Negotiations for the match between the Infanta and Charles, Prince of Wales: 1611-1626.
• f. 61 Charles I of England: Negotiations for his marriage with the Infanta: 1611-1626.
• f. 61 John Digby, Earl of Bristol: Instructions for, to treat for the Spanish match: 1617.
• f. 62 b John Williams, Dean of Westminster, Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Keeper, afterwards Archbishop of York: Speech, as Lord Keeper, at the Guildhall, concerning subsidies: 1621.
• f. 66 Huguenots: Letter conc. French Protestants leaving their country: 1621.
• f. 66 Salsbury: Letter conc. the French Protestants: 1621.: Copy.
• f. 68 Henry III of England: A short view of the reign of Henry III., by Sir R. Cotton: temp. Jas. I.
• f. 68 Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet; antiquary: Short view after reign of Henry III.: temp. Jas. I.
• f. 80 b Philip II of Spain: Negotiations for the marriage of Pr. Henry with a daughter of: 1611.
• f. 80 b Sir Charles Cornwallis: Relation of the negotiation for the marriage of Pr. Henry with an Infant, attributed to: 1611.
• f. 80 b Henry, Princes of Wales: Negotiations for his marriage with a daughter of the King of Spain: 1611.
• f. 80 b John Digby, Earl of Bristol: Negotiations for the Spanish match and subsequent charges against: 1611-1626.
• f. 80 b James I of England: Relation of the negotiation for the marriage of Pr. Henry with a Spanish Infanta: 1611.
• ff. 95, 97 James I of England: Correspondence with the Elector Palatine: 1622-1623.: Copies.
• ff. 95, 97 Frederick V; Elector Palatine of the Rhine; King of Bohemia: Correspondence with James I.: 1614-1623.
• f. 102 b Sir Benjamin Rudyard, MP for Wilton: Speeches in Parliament: 1624, 1640, 1641.
• f. 102 b Frederick V; Elector Palatine of the Rhine; King of Bohemia: Speech of Sir B. Rudyard on the restoration of the Palatinate: 1624.
• f. 102 b England; Parliament: Speech of Sir B. Rudyerd on the Spanish match, etc.: 1624.
• f. 105 Gaspar de Guzman, Conde de Olivares: Correspondence with Philip IV. of Spain: 1622, 1623.: Copies.
• f. 105 Philip IV of Spain: Correspondence with Conde de Olivares: 1622-1623.: Copies.
• f. 109 Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester: "Leycester's Commonwealth," pamphlet against: 1584, 1594.
• f. 109 Political Tracts: "Leicester's Commonwealth ": 1584.
• f. 205 Charles I of England: Petition to, from Sir J. Eliot: 1627.
• f. 205 Sir John Eliot: Petition to the King: 1627.: Copy.
• f. 207 b England; Parliament: Speech of Sir F. Seymour on public grievances: 1628.
• f. 207 b Sir Francis Seymour, MP: Speech in the debate on public grievances: 1628.
• f. 209 Political Tracts: "The danger wherein the Kingdome now standeth," etc., by Sir R. Cotton: temp. Jas. I.
• f. 209 Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet; antiquary: Treatise: "The danger wherein the Kingdome now standeth," etc.: temp. Jas. I.
• f. 215 George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham: Speeches in Parliament: 1621-1625.
• f. 215 England; Parliament: Proceedings: 4 Apr., 1621.
• f. 216 b Francis Rouse, MP for Tregony: Speech against Popery and Arminianism, etc.: 1629.
• ff. 216 b, 218 England; Parliament: Speeches of Sir J. Eliot and others against Popery, etc.: 1629.
• ff. 216 b, 218 Arminians, The: Speeches in the Commons against: 1629.
• ff. 216 b, 218 Roman Catholics: Speeches in the Commons against: 1629.
• f. 218 John Selden: Speech against Popery, etc.: 1629.
• f. 218 Sir John Eliot: Speeches in parliament: 1626 1629.
• f. 219 Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset: Proceedings against: 1629.
• f. 219 John Holles, Earl of Clare: Proceedings in the Star Chamber against: 1629.
• f. 219 Francis Russell, Earl of Bedford (ob. 1641): Proceedings in the Starchamber against: 1629.
• f. 219 Sir Robert Heath, Chief Justice of King's Bench: Bill against the Earls of Bedford, Somerset, Clare, etc.: 1629.: Imperf.