Stowe MS 840

COLLECTIONS relating to Colchester, co. Essex, with other miscellaneous papers, circ. 1300-1800, viz.:-

1. Speech of Sir Gilbert Dolben in the Convention Parliament, 28 Jan. 168⁸/₉, on the state of the nation (Parl. Hist., vol. v., col. 36); in his own hand. f.1 2. Draft of a bill for excluding placemen from the House of Commons. f. 10. Of the three Place bills introduced between 1688 and 1701, this must be the third, which was thrown out on 20 Feb. 169⁴/₅ (see Commons' Journals); for the sovereign is spoken of as "his Maj^tie," and the two previous bills were disposed of during Queen Mary's lifetime. (See Macaulay's History, ed. 1880, vol. ii., pp. 406, 473, 497.) 3. Abstract of the will of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Bart., of Stowe, co. Bucks (ob. 1697). lmperfect at the beginning. f. 12.

4. Perambulation of Bernwood Forest, co. Bucks, 28 Edw. I. [1299- 1300]: an official copy made in 1609, and examined by Arthur Agarde. f. 17.

5. Miscellaneous papers relating to Colchester, from the collections of Rev. P. Morant. f. 2. Among them are;-(a) Three letters from Browne Willis to P. Morant; 1748-59. ff. 20, 21, 24;-(b) Decimary of lands in the parish of Stanway, co. Essex, "belonging to the late dissolved house of St. Johns beside Colchester"; copied in or soon after 1621. f. 25;-(c) Rating of parishes in Colchester, in various years from 1610 to 1662. ff. 26-32;-(d) Receipts from Nathanael Rich, Receiver-general of the Land-tax, 1691-1693. ff. 33-39;-(e) Letter from the balliffs of Colchester, praying for the issue of a writ for the election of a burgess in Parliament in place of Nicholas Clere deceased, and the sheriff's return of Robert Midleton as the new burgess, 1579. ff. 40, 41;-(f) Verdicts of juries at Colchester, against Margaret Rand, "communis fascinatrix et incantatrix tam hominum quam animalium," for having bewitched a woman on 28 Nov. 35 Eliz. [1592], and against John Lock, for using "witchcraft, inchantment, charme or sorcerie," 8 Nov. 1651. Vellum. ff. 42, 43;-(g) Weekly tables of deaths in Colchester from the plague (4731) and from other causes (528),14 Aug. 1665- 7 Dec. 1666. Followed by "The Bearers oath" and "The oath for the Searchers of the Plague, 1665." Copies by P. Morant (see Creighton, History of Epidemics, 1891, p. 688). ff. 44, 46;-(h) Letter on the antiquities of Colchester by Anthony Holbrook, Rector of Waltham Parva and Pandfield, co. Essex (early 18th cent.). f. 47;-(i) Grants of arms, extracted from chartularies, patent rolls, etc. f. 54;-(k) Essex pedigrees. f. 65. Paper; ff. 79. XVIth-XVIIIth centt. Folio.

Colchester, Essex: Collections relating to: 14th-18th centt.

Philip Morant, rector of St. Mary at the Walls, Colchester, historian of Essex: Colchester collections: 15th-18th centt.

includes:

• f. 1 Sir Gilbert Dolben, Baronet (1704): Speech in the Convention: 1689.: Autogr.
• f. 1 England; Parliament: Speech of Sir G. Dolben: 1689.
• f. 10 England; Parliament: Bill to exclude placemen: [1695].: Draft.
• f. 12 Wills: Sir R. Temple, ob. 1697.: Draft. Imperf.
• f. 12 Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet; MP: Will: late 17th cent.: Abstract. Imperf.
• f. 17 Bernwood Forest, Buckinghamshire: Perambulation of: 1299-1300.: Lat.: Copy, 1609.
• f. 19 Arthur Agard: Official copy certified by, as Deputy-Chamberlain of the Exchequer: 1609.
• ff. 20, 21, 24 Browne Willis, antiquary: Letters to P. Morant: 1748-59.
• f. 25 Stanway, Essex: Decimary of lands in, belonging to St. John's Abbey, Colchester,: temp. Hen. VIII.: Copy, circ. 1621.
• f. 30 John Gaell, Mayor of Colchester: Order for assessment: 1660.: Signed.
• ff. 33-39 Nathanael Rich: Receipts signed by, as Receiver-general of the land-tax: 1691-93.
• ff. 33-39 Revenue: Receipts for payments of land-tax in Colchester.: 1691-93.
• f. 40 Richard Thurston, Bailiff of Colchester: Petition for writ to elect a new burgess: 1579.
• f. 40 William Turner, Bailiff of Colchester: Petition for writ to elect a new burgess: 1579.
• f. 40 Nicholas Clere, MP for Colchester: Petition for writ on the death of: 1579.
• f. 41 Robert Midleton: Return of, as M.P. for Colchester: 1579.
• f. 42 Margaret Rand, of Colchester: Verdict against, for witchcraft: 1592.
• ff. 42, 43 Witchcraft: Convictions for, at Colchester: 1592, 1651.
• f. 43 John Lock, weaver, of Colchester: Verdict against, for witchcraft: 1651.
• f. 44 Plague, The: Bills of deaths from, in Colchester: 1665-6.
• f. 46 Plague, The: Bearers' and searchers' oaths at Colchester: 1665.
• f. 47 Reverend Anthony Holbrook, Rector of Waltham Parva and Pandfield, county Essex: Letter on the antiquities of Colchester: early 18th cent.
• ff. 54- 64 b Heraldry: Grants of arms, 14th-17th centt.: 18th cent.
• f. 65 Genealogies: Family pedigrees: co. Essex: 17th-18th centt.
• f. 65 County of Essex: Pedigrees of Essex families: 1634, 17th-18th centt.