Stowe MS 540

" RECORDS and papers relating to the Guardianship of the Kingdom as well in the absence of our Kings as in extraordinary emergencies," with documents concerning the custody of the Great and Privy Seals, the proceedings of the Lords Justices, etc.; tempp John-George I. Notes on f. 1 by Thomas Astle state that on 12-17 Dec. 1788, this book was produced by him " before the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to examine and report Precedents of Interruptions of the Royal Authority by infancy, sickness, infirmity or otherwise." The principal contents are:-

1. " Custodes et justiciarii Regni Angliæ [1214-1544] . . . ex rotulis in Turre Londini conservatis. Extracta per Georgium Holmes, Deputatum Custodem Rotulorum predictorum." f. 4.

2. " References to Records [1423-1765] respecting the government of the Kingdom by Guardians, Regents and Councils." f. 40.

3. Instructions for the Lords Justices appointed to exercise the Royal Authority during the King's absence; 5 May, 1695. Copy. f. 42.

4. Minutes and extracts from Council Books relating to the proceedings of the Lords Justices in 1695-1701. ff. 48, 52, 54.

5. Warrant of the Lords Justices appointing Thomas Parker [Earl of Macclesfield, 1721] Recorder of Derby; 7 July, 1696. Signed by Thomas [Tenison, Archbishop of] Canterbury, J[ohn Somers, Baron] Somers, [Thomas Herbert, Earl of] Pembroke, [Charles Talbot, Duke of] Shrewsbury, [Charles Sackville, Earl of] Dorset, and [Sidney Godolphin, Baron] Godolphin, Lords Justices. With paper seal. f. 59.

6. Royal Warrant " De constitutione Dominorum justiciariorum Angliae"; 1 June, 11 Will. III. [1699]. Copy. f. 61.

7. " Privy Seal Bill constituting [George] the Prince of Wales Guardian of the Kingdom in his Ma^ties Absence "; 5 July, 1716. Copy. f. 73.

8. Commission appointing the Lords Justices during the King's absence abroad; 9 May, 1719. Followed by instructions to the same; 11 May, 1719. Copies. ff. 75, 81, 85.

9. " Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to [William Cadogan] the Earl of Cadogan's Full Power," as Ambassador to the States General; 22 Oct. 1719. Signed by W[illiam Wake, Archbishop of] Canterbury, [Evelyn Pierrepont, Duke of] Kingston, [John Campbell, Duke of] Argyll and Greenwich, [Thomas Pelham] Holles [Duke of] Newcastle, [John Ker, Duke of] Roxburgh, [James Berkeley, Earl of] Berkeley, and J[ames] Craggs. Followed by a copy of the warrant of full power. ff. 89, 90.

10. " Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to [John Dalrymple] the Earl of Stair's Full Power," .,is Ambassador to France; 29 Oct. 1719. Signed by the Archbisliop of Canterbury, the Dukes of Kingston, Newcastle, and Roxburgh, and the Earl of Berkeley. Followed by a copy of the warrant of full power. ff. 93, 94.

11. "Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to his Mat"; Guaranty of the Dutchy of Sleswick to the King of Denmark "; 2 Aug. 1720. Signed by the Archbishop, Duke of Kingston, [Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount] Townshend, [Charles Fitzroy, Duke of] Grafton, and J. Craggs. Followed by a copy of the deed of guarantee. ff. 97, 98.

12. "Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to Capt. [Robert] Potter's Commission to seize pirates"; 30 Aug. 1720. Signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Viscount Townshend, Earl of Berkeley, and J. Craggs. f. 101.

13. E[dward] Weston, Under Secretary of State, to -, reporting the refusal of [John Russell] Duke of Bedford, on his return to England, to receive the Privy Seal from the Commissioners for the custody of the same during his absence; 14 Apr. 1763. f 103.

14. Speech of Thomas Parker, Earl of Macclesfield, Lord Chancellor, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London upon the King's going to Hanover; 9 May, 1719. Autograph. f. 107.

15. Notification by Edward Ill. of his appointment of his brother, John de Eltham, Earl of Cornwall, as guardian of the Kingdom during his ascence in France; Dover, 4 April, a^o 5 [1331]. Copy. f. 109.

16. List of documents relating to commissions for appointing guardians of the Kingdom, etc., 1 Edw..III.-8 Hen. V., with references to Rymer's Foedera, etc. With additions in T. Astle's handwriting. f. 110. Paper; ff. 117. xviiith cent. Inside the cover: " E MSS. Macclesfield " (see above, art. 14). Folio.

England General Chronicles and History: Records relating to the guardianship of the Kingdom in the King's absence, etc.: tempp. John-Geo. I.

includes:

• ff. 4-36 George Holmes, Keeper of the Records in the Tower: Extracts from the Tower Records by: 18th cent.
• ff. 42-61 William III and Mary II of England: Instructions for, and proceedings of, the Lords Justices: 1695-1701.
• f. 59 Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke; Lord High Admiral: Warrant signed by: 1696.
• f. 59 Thomas Parker, 1st Baron Parker; 1st Earl of Macclesfield: Warrant appointing him Recorder of Derby: 1696.
• f. 59 Thomas Sackville, 1st Baron Buckhurst; 1st Earl of Dorset: Warrant signed by: 1596.
• f. 59 John Somers, Baron Somers 1697: Warrant signed by: 1696.
• f. 59 Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury: Warrant signed by: 1696.
• f. 59 Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin: Treasury letters signed by: 1680, 1696.
• f. 59 Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury: Warrant signed by: 1696.
• ff. 75, 81, 85 George I of England: Appointment of Lords Justices: 1719.: Copies.
• f. 89 John Campbell, Duke of Argyll and Greenwich: Warrant signed by: 1719.
• ff. 89, 90 William Cadogan, 1st Baron and (1718) Earl Cadogan: Appointment as Amb. to the States General: 1719.
• ff. 89, 93 Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle 1715; formerly Pelham; Secretary of State: Warrants signed by: 1719.
• ff. 89, 93, 101 James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley: Warrants signed by: 1719-1720.
• ff. 89, 93, 97 John Ker, Duke of Roxburgh: Warrants signed by: 1719.
• ff. 89, 93, 97 Evelyn Pierrepont, Duke of Kingston: Warrants signed by: 1719-1720.
• ff. 89, 93, 97, 101 William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury: Warrants signed by: 1719-1720.
• ff. 89, 97, 101 John Craggs, junior; Secretary of State., etc: Warrants signed by: 1719-1720.
• ff. 93, 94 John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair: Appointment as Ambassador to France: 1719.
• f. 97 Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend: Warrants signed by: 1720, 1723.
• f. 97 Charles Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton: Warrant signed by: 1720.
• ff. 97, 98 Frederic IV; King of Denmark: Guarantee of the Duchy of Schleswig to, from George I.: 1720.
• ff. 97, 98 George I of England: Guarantee of the Duchy of Schleswig to Denmark: 1720.
• ff. 97, 98 Duchy of Schleswig: Guarantee of, from England to Denmark: 1720.
• f. 101 Captain Robert Potter: Commission to, for seizure of pirates: 1720.
• f. 103 Edward Weston, Under Secretary of State: Letter to -: 1763.
• f. 103 John Russell, Duke of Bedford: Refusal to receive the Privy Seal on his return to England: 1763.
• f. 107 London, Parishes. St. Mary Aldermary: Speech of Lord Chancellor Macclesfield to the Lord Mayor, etc.: 1719.
• f. 107 Thomas Parker, 1st Baron Parker; 1st Earl of Macclesfield: Speech, as Lord Chancellor, to the Lord Mayor, etc., of London: 1719.: Autogr.
• f. 109 Edward III of England: Appt. of a guardian of the kingdom during his absence: 1331.: Copy.
• f. 109 John ' de Eltham ', Earl of Cornwall: Appointed Guardian of England: 1331.
• f. 731 George II of England: Appointment of, as Guardian of the Kingdom in his father's absence: 1716.: Copy.