Stowe MS 759

1. EPIT0ME Of Church history, from the birth of Christ to 1612. ff. 3-49 b. Followed (ff. 50-59) by notes, in the same hand, on the Apostles and Evangelists, the early Bishops of Rome, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, and other Fathers of the Church. At ff. 1 b, 2, are memoranda of commercial transactions, dated 1639; and at f. 60 is the record, in Italian, of a sale by Filippo Williams and Francesco Hoye to Ottauiano Bartoli of caviare expected from Russia, dat. Liuorno, 7 Dec. 1641.

2. "Observations on the Messina trade for Customes," etc.; 1642. f. 6 1. At the other end of the volume (ff. 119 b-62 b) are:-

3. Register of letters of Philip Williams ["P. W.," f. 89], who appears from them to have been an English merchant, resident at Galata, 30 Mar.-5 July, 1639 (ff. 118-111 b), at Constantinople, 13 July, 1639-10 Feb. 1639 [40] (ff. 111 b-100 b), and at Leghorn, 13 July, 1640-20 June, 1647 (ff. 99b-73b). ff. 119b-73b. One letter (f. 85 b), dated 9 Aug. 1642, is to Sir Henry Garway [al. Garraway, Lord Mayor of London 1639-40], thanking him for his "word in my behalfe, that made mee part Commissioner in Liuorne for the India Comp^y." The letters relate solely to private and business affairs., a large proportion being addressed to the writer's brother, William Williams, with whom he seems to have been in partnership (see also f. 1 b). His sisters appear to have married respectively men named Backhouse (f. 99, etc.), Browne (f. 96, from which it appears that Mrs. Browne died before 11 May, 1641), Riccard (f. 75 b; see also ff. 71 b, 1 b, 2), and Garway (a relation, probably nephew, of Sir Henry, see f. 93). Some of the letters are addressed to Edward Barnard, "Consull in Alleppo" (ff. 113 b, 111 b, 109 b, 105 b); and one is to "Mr. Tho. Symonds, in Zant, Consull" (f. 78).

4. Schedule of deeds, 1517-1684, relating chiefly to property in and near "Charleton Canvill" [Charlton Horethorne], co. Somerset, which appears to have come into the possession of the Williams family about 1639. ff. 72 b-62 b. Paper; ff. 119. XVIIth cent. Quarto.

includes:

• f. 3 Church History: Epitome of, to 1612: 17th cent.
• f. 60 Francis Hoye: Memorandum of sale by, at Leghorn: 1641.: Ital.
• f. 60 Ottaviano Bartoli: Memorandum of sale to, at Leghorn: 1641.: Ital.: Copy.
• f. 61 Trade: Notes on the Messina trade: 1642.
• f. 61 Messina, Sicily: Notes on the Messina trade: 1642.
• f. 72 b Charlton Horethorne, Somerset: Schedule of deeds mainly relating to: 1517-1684.
• f. 78 Thomas Symonds, Consul at Zante: Letter to, from P. Williams: 1643.
• f. 85 b Sir Henry Garway, Lord Mayor of London (1639-40): Letter to, from P. Williams: 1642.
• ff. 113 b, 111 b, 109 b, 105 b Edward Barnard, Consul at Aleppo: Letters to, from P. Williams: 1639.
• ff. 115 b-75 passim William Williams: Letters to, from P. Williams: 1639-1645.
• ff. 119 b-73 b Philip Williams, Merchant at Galata, Constantinople and Leghorn: Letter-book: 1639-1647.
• ff. 119 b-73 b Trade: Letter-book of P. Williams at Galata, Constantinople and Leghorn: 1639-1647.