Add MS 73087

MISCELLANEOUS TRACTS AND LETTERS, ETC., relating to English affairs, domestic and diplomatic, with some legal papers, etc.;circa 1571-1626, n.d. Copies, circa 1626-1633. The Ralegh material (no. 2 below) comprises eleven letters, etc., 1603-1612, n.d., and his speech on the scaffold, 29 Oct. 1618. Other items include correspondence (no. 6) between William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and Sir Francis Walsingham concerning negotiations of Elizabeth I in 1571 for a French match; a series of tracts (no. 8) on English officers of state read by Sir Robert Cotton and William Camden before the Society of Antiquaries in 1603; and groups of documents relating to Mary, Queen of Scots (no. 5), Sir Francis Bacon (no. 9) and Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury (no. 10). The final item (no. 16), an epigram by Ben Jonson of 1633, is not listed in the table of contents, but was added later in a contemporary hand. This volume was produced uniformly with the collection of political tracts dated 1536-circa 1628 that is now Stowe MS 145. The format, watermark, binding and some of the hands are the same, and both manuscripts belonged to the same early owner.

Paper: ff. iv+232. 286 x 198mm. Preserved separately is the former early-17th cent. binding of rough calf over boards, with blind-stamped compartments of double rules on covers and three bands from the (missing) spine. The principal watermark, posts incorporating letters 'RDP', is roughly similar to Heawood, Watermarks . . ., no. 3494 (dated to 1633). As in Stowe MS 145 the first page of the 'Table of all the seuerall Tractes' (f. 4) and that concluding the final tract (f. 230) bear ownership-inscriptions of 'Ri: Tichborne'. A pencil note pencilled on a front flyleaf (f. 2) in the hand of Miss Latham tentatively describes him as a son of Sir Henry Tichborne (d. 1667), but he is more probably to be identified with Sir Richard (circa 1578-1652), 2nd Bart. 1629, of Tichborne, co. Southampton. The table and first thirty tracts, along with part of the thirty-first, are transcribed mostly in the hand of the prolific professional copyist who, under the sobriquet of the 'Feathery Scribe', is discussed by Peter Beal in the Lyell Lectures delivered at Oxford University, 1996 [forthcoming 1997]. Present folios 10-232 carry contemporary foliation from 1 to 221 in ink. Pressmark '8 C' written in pink crayon inside the front cover (f. i) is repeated, with correction in pencil to 'C 5', on f. 2, which also carries the number '(18)' in ink at head. Owned, in 1893, by Cecil Deedes, prebendary of Chichester. Tipped in at the front are a printed description (f. ii) excised from James Tregaskis and Son's Caxton Head Catalogue no. 1022, 1948, item 29, and a typewritten receipt (f. iii) from Tregaskis made out on 4 November 1948 to Mrs. Bryher. Formerly preserved in a modern box of brown buckram gilt-lettered on the spine 'Tractes and Treatises of Prince Henry [rule] c. 1633'.

The contents are as follows, titles where quoted being taken from the headings of the individual texts:

1. ff. 10-22. Sir Charles Cornwallis: 'The Manner of the Sicknes and death of Prince Henry Sonne to Kinge James Anno 1612'; circa 1626. Printed as The life and death of our late most incomparable and heroique Prince Henry . . ., 1641.

2. ff. 22-46v. Sir Walter Ralegh: Eleven letters, etc., mostly of and relating to him; 1603-1618, n.d. Page-references to Edward Edwards's Life of Sir Walter Ralegh . . . together with his letters, 2 vols., 1868, have been added marginally in pencil by Agnes Latham. Letters not printed by Edwards, along with variant readings in some that are, were published by Cecil Deedes in Notes and Queries, 8th Ser., 1893, vols. III, pp. 481-2, and IV, pp. 21-2, 63-4, 121-2. Also included in this section is an unrelated letter (h) of Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, 1612. As follows:

(a) Ralegh to the Privy Council Commissioners for his trial; 13 Aug. 1603. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 271-4, with variants from the present text listed by Deedes, loc. cit., vol. IV, 12 Aug. 1893, p. 121. ff.22-24; (b) to King James I; 21 Jan. 1603/4. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 280-2. The original is in Hatfield House (Cecil Papers 102/111). ff.24v-25v; (c) to [addressee unknown]; 1 Aug. 1603. Text printed, but attribution questioned, by C. Deedes, loc. cit., vol. IV, 22 July 1893, pp. 63, 64. ff. 25v-26v; (d) to King James I; 21 Jan. 1603/4. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 296-7. ff. 26v-27v; (e) to Robert Carr, later Earl of Somerset; 2 Jan. 1608/9. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 326-8, with variants from the present text listed by Deedes, loc. cit., vol. IV, 12 Aug. 1893, pp. 121-2. For another copy see above Add. 73086, no. 1. ff. 28-29; (f) to his wife, Lady Elizabeth Ralegh; circa Dec. 1603. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 284-7, with variants from the present text listed by Deedes, loc. cit., vol. IV, 12 Aug. 1893, p. 121. ff. 29-31; (g) to Queen Anne of Denmark; circa 1610. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 333-4, with variants from the present text listed by Deedes, loc cit., vol. IV, 12 Aug. 1893, p. 122. ff. 31-32; (h) Sir Robert Carr, as Viscount Rochester, to Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, rel. to rumours regarding his acquisition of offices; 8 Oct. 1612. ff. 32-33v; (i) Ralegh to King James I, rel. to Guiana; circa 1611. Printed from the present text, which is dated to 1607, by C. Deedes, loc. cit., vol. III, 24 June 1893, pp. 481-2. ff. 33v-35; (j) to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, rel. to Guiana; circa 1607. Printed by Deedes, loc. cit., vol. IV, 8 July 1893, pp. 21-2. ff. 35-38; (k) to Sir Ralph Winwood, Secretary of State, rel. to Guiana; 1607. Printed in Edwards, op. cit., II, pp. 350-7, with variants from the present text listed by Deedes in loc. cit., vol. IV, 12 Aug. 1893, p. 122. This copy headed 'to my Lord Treasurer'. ff. 38v-43; and (l) Speech on the scaffold; 29 Oct. 1618. Printed in Edwards op. cit., I, pp. 699-704. ff.43-46v.

3. f. 47. Letter of Anthony Babington, Catholic conspirator, to Elizabeth I, seeking his pardon; 19 Sept. 1586. Printed in John Nichols, The Progresses . . . of Queen Elizabeth, 1823, vol. II, p. 244.

4. ff. 47v-52v. Edward Bruce, 2nd Baron Kinloss, and Edward Sackville, later 4th Earl of Dorset: Correspondence, 10 Aug. 1613 and n.d., including challenge, followed by Sackville's account of the duel fought at Paris in which Bruce was killed, dated Louvain, 8 Sept. 1613. Printed in Collins's Peerage of England, ed. by Sir E. Brydges, 1812, vol. II, pp. 152-7.

5. ff. 53-62. Letters, etc., relating to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots; 1586-1587. As follows:

(a) Elizabeth I: Instructions to Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, and Robert Beale on their mission to Mary, Queen of Scots, to confirm sentence of death; Nov. 1586. Printed in Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland, vol. IX (1586-1588), pp. 156-9. ff.53-56v; (b) Elizabeth I: Letter to Sir Amias Paulet; [Aug. 1586]. Printed in C.S.P. Scotland, vol. VIII (1585-1586), pp. 156-9. ff. 56v-57v; and (c) Sir Lewis Bellenden, Justice Clerk of Scotland: Letter in reply to Sir Archibald Douglas, Scots Ambassador in England; 24 Oct. [1587]. Printed in C.S.P. Scotland, vol. IX (1586-1588), pp. 491-4. ff. 57v-62.

6. ff. 62-81. Correspondence, etc., relating to the negotiations for the proposed match between Elizabeth I and François de Valois, Duc d'Alençon; 1571. Printed in Sir Dudley Digges in The Compleate Ambassador, 1655, pp.147-62 passim. As follows:

(a) Sir Francis Walsingham to William Cecil, Lord Burghley; [1571]. Printed op. cit., p. 149. ff. 62-63v; (b) Elizabeth I: Instructions for Sir Henry Killegrew in France; 19 Oct. 1571. Printed op. cit., pp. 147-9. ff. 63v-67; (c) Walsingham to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; Paris, 7 Nov. 1571. Printed. op. cit., p. 150. ff. 67v-68; (d) Burghley to Walsingham; 1 Nov. 1571. Printed op. cit., p. 151. ff. 68v-69; (e) Walsingham to Burghley; 7 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., p. 151. ff. 69v-70; (f) Burghley to Walsingham; 5 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., p. 152. ff. 70, 70v; (g) Burghley to Walsingham; 7 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., pp. 152-3. ff. 71-72v; (h) Leicester to Walsingham; 6 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., pp. 153-4. ff. 72v-75; (i) Walsingham to Burghley; 29 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., p. 160. ff. 75-76; (j) Walsingham to Burghley; 8 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., p. 160-1. ff. 76-77; (k) Walsingham to Burghley; 31 Dec. 1571. Printed op. cit., p. 161. ff. 77-78; and (l) 'A mynute of my Lord Burleighes Lre to Sr Thomas Smith: of the 28 of December [1571]'. Printed op. cit., pp. 161-2. ff. 78-81.

7. ff. 82-105. Charles Blount, Earl of Devonshire: 'A Discourse written by the Earle of Deuonshire in defence of the marriage wth the Ladye Penelope Rich 1606'. Copy. Printed from Add. MS 4149, ff. 306-319v, in M. S. Rawson, Penelope Rich and her circle, 1911, pp. 320-42. Another copy is Bodleian MS Cherry 20, ff. 70 et seq.

8. ff. 106-146v. Tracts, etc., on English officers of state; 1602-1616, n.d. Several of these, read by Sir Robert Cotton and William Camden to the Society of Antiquaries in 1603, were printed by Thomas Hearne, A Collection of curious discourses written by eminent antiquaries, 2nd edn., 1771, vol. II, pp.1-97 passim. Two leaves, now represented by stubs (ff.129, 130), were excised following (e) below, while a page (f. 146v) following the final item (i) carries the opening only of a tract entitled 'The Jursidiction of the Lord High Constable and Marshall of England'. As follows:

(a) Cotton's 'Discourse of the Office of Lord steward of England'; circa 4 June 1603. Printed op. cit, pp. [1]-12. The final section, headed 'Of the Steward of the Kinges housholde', is listed as a separate tract in the table. ff. 106-115; (b) Camden's 'Discourse of the office of the Lord Steward of England'; circa 4 June 1603. Printed op. cit., pp. 38-40. ff. 115v-118; (c) Cotton's 'Discourse of the office of the Lo: Highe Connstable of Englande'; n.d. Printed op. cit., pp. 65-7. ff. 118v-120v; (d) Cotton's 'Antiquitie and office of Earle Marshall of England'; n.d. Printed op. cit., pp. 97-103. ff. 121-126; (e) Cotton's 'discourse of the Antiquitie and office of the Earle Marshals of England written . . . at the request of the lord [Henry] Howard Earle of Northampton'; 25 Nov. 1602. ff. 126v-128v; (f) Camden's 'Etimologie, Antiquity, and office of the Earle Marshall of England'. Printed as 'Commentarius de etymologia, antiquitate, & officio Comitis Marescalli Angliae' in Camdeni Epistolae, 1691, Appendix, pp.87-93, and by Hearne, op. cit., pp. 90-7. ff. 131-138v; commissions of Elizabeth I and James I to the Lord Treasurer and others to exercise the office of Earl Marshal; 26 Dec. 1601, 25 Sept. 1616. ff. 139-143v; and (g) 'Certaine Observacions Concerninge the Eareles Marshalles of England and theire Jurisdictions'; n.d., after 1589. ff. 144-146v.

9. ff. 147-163. Sir Francis Bacon: Two documents, viz:- (a) 'Sir Francis Bacons Charge att the Sessions of the Verge [of Court]'; n.d., temp. James I. ff. 147-160; and (b) 'The humble Submission and Supplication of the Lord Chauncelour' to the House of Lords; 22 April 1621. ff. 160-163. The latter is printed in Rushworth's Historical Collections, 1721, vol. I, pp. 29, 30, and in Bacon's Works, ed. J. Spedding, vol. XIV, 1874, pp. 252-62.

10. ff. 165-185. Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury: Two speeches, viz: (a) Speech, as Lord Treasurer, at a conference between the two Houses; 17 Feb. 1610. For another copy see Harley MS 777, ff. 2v-14. ff. 165-181v; and (b) 'The Hermits oration att Theobaldes / 1594 / Penned by Sr Robte Cecill', printed in John Nichols, The progresses . . . of Queen Elizabeth, 1823, III, 241-5. ff. 181v-185.

11. ff. 185, 185v. John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln and Lord Keeper: Letter to the judges, rel. to the enlargement of imprisoned recusants; 2 Aug. 1622. See Calendar of State Papers: Domestic, 1618-1623, p. 436.

12. ff. 185v-188v. Henry Garnet, S.J.: Brief account of execution, under the title of 'Garnetts arraignment'; 3 May 1606. Cf. a similar account in Add. 34218, ff. 81v-82v.

13. ff. 189-208. Sir Charles Cornwallis: 'A relation of the carriage of the marriage that should have bin made betweene the Prince of England and the Infanta Maior of Spaine And allso after with the younger Infanta. Written by Sr Charles Cornwallis'; circa Feb. 1622. This tract, which was addressed to Sir John Digby, later 1st Earl of Bristol, is printed in John Gutch, Collectanea Curiosa, 1781, I, pp. 133-155. For further copies see Add. MS 4149, ff. 163-172b, and Bodleian MS Tanner 278, ff. 253-262.

14. ff. 209-230. Anonymous legal tract entitled 'A Reconciliacion. Pro Salute Domini Regis et Subditorum suorum. A Reconciliacion made betweene the kinge and his Subiects touchinge the demaunde of his right in old debtes and landes quietly enioyed tyme out of mynde &c.'; n.d. The final paragraph contrasts the grant of a patent for a first part of the King's revenues to Richard Putto, undersheriff, with Parliament's refusal of a fourth part to Sir Stephen Proctor [d.1620]. See also Lansdowne MSS 166, 129 (Putto) and 167, 23-134 passim (Proctor), circa 1607-8, and Cal. S. P. Dom. [1611-1618] 6 July 1611, 24 April 1612 (Putto)].

15. f. 231. Ben Jonson: Poem 'On the right hoble and ve[r]tuos Lord Weston Lo: high Trer of England uppon the daye he was made Earle of Portland', beg. 'Looke upp thou seede of enuy and still bringe'; 17 Feb. 1632/3. Printed in 'The Vnder-wood' (lxxiii) in Workes, 1640.

James I of England: Political and diplomatic tracts, etc.,: 1603-1622, n.d.: Copies.

Elizabeth I of England: Political and diplomatic tracts, etc.,: 1571-1602: Copies.

Sir Charles Cornwallis, diplomatist: Henry Frederick, Princes of Wales: Sir C. Cornwallis: `The Manner of the Sicknes and Death of Prince Henry Sonne to Kinge James': circa 1626: Copy.

includes:

• f. 1 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Sir Robert Ker, Viscount Rochester; alias Carr; later Earl of Somerset: Sherborne, Dorset: Letter to Sir Robert Ker from Sir Walter Ralegh rel. to Castle at Sherborne: 1609: Copy.
• ff. 2v-14 Robert Cecil, Viscount Cranborne; 1st Earl of Salisbury: Speech, as Lord Treasurer, at a conference of both Houses: 1610: Copy.
• ff. 4, 230 Sir Henry Tichborne, 2nd Baronet: Signature, as owner: early 17th cent.
• f. 22 England; Privy Council: Letter from Sir W. Ralegh: 1603: Copy.
• f. 22 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Letter to the Privy Council Commissioners for his trial: 1603.
• ff. 24v, 26v, 33v Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Letters to King James I: 1604-circa 1611: Copies.
• ff. 24v, 26v, 33v British Guiana: James I of England: Letters from Sir W. Ralegh partly rel. to Guiana, British: 1604-circa 1611: Copies.
• f. 25v Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Letter to ---: 1603: Copy.
• ff. 28, 32 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Sir Robert Ker, Viscount Rochester; alias Carr; later Earl of Somerset: Letters to Sir Robert Ker from Sir Walter Ralegh: 1609, 1612: Copies.
• f. 29 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Elizabeth Ralegh, alias Raleigh; wife of Sir W Ralegh: Letter to Elizabeth Ralegh from Sir Walter Ralegh: circa 1603: Copy.
• f. 31 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Anne of Denmark, wife of James I of England: Letter to Anne of Denmark from Sir Walter Ralegh: circa 1610: Copy.
• f. 35 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Robert Cecil, Viscount Cranborne; 1st Earl of Salisbury: Letter to Robert Cecil from Sir Walter Ralegh: circa 1607: Copy.
• f. 38v Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: British Guiana: Sir Ralph Winwood, Secretary of State: Letter to Sir Ralph Winwood from Sir Walter Ralegh rel. to Guiana, British: 1607: Copy.
• f. 43 Sir Walter Ralegh, alias Raleigh; military and naval commander; author: Speech on the scaffold: 1618: Copy.
• f. 47 Anthony Babington, conspirator: Letter to Queen Elizabeth I: 1586: Copy.
• f. 47 Elizabeth I of England: Letter from to Elizabeth I from A. Babington: 1586: Copy.
• ff. 47v-52v Thomas Sackville, 1st Baron Buckhurst; 1st Earl of Dorset: Correspondence with E. Bruce, 2nd Baron Kinloss: 1613: Copies.
• ff. 53-56v Elizabeth I of England: Instructions to Lord Buckhurst and R. Beale rel. to Mary, Queen of Scots: 1586: Copy.
• ff. 53-56v Thomas Sackville, 1st Baron Buckhurst; 1st Earl of Dorset: Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Mary of Scotland: Instructions to Thomas Sackville to Robert Beale rel. to Sovereigns of SCOTLAND. 3: 1586: Copy.
• ff. 53-56v Mary of Scotland: Instructions from Elizabeth I's emissaries to: 1586: Copy.
• f. 56v Elizabeth I of England: Sir Amias Paulet, Governor of Jersey; keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots: Letter to Sir Amias Paulet from Elizabeth: 1586: Copy.
• f. 57v Sir Lewis Bellenden, lawyer: Sir Archibald Douglas, Scots Ambassador in England: Letter rel. to Mary, Queen of Scots to Sir Archibald Douglas from Sir Lewis Bellenden: 1587: Copy.
• ff. 62-77 William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Correspondence with Sir F. Walsingham: 1571: Copy.
• ff. 62-77 Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Correspondence with Lord Burghley: 1571: Copy.
• ff. 62-81 François de Valois, Duc d'Anjou: Correspondence, etc., rel. to Elizabeth I's proposed match with: 1571: Copies.
• ff. 62-81 Elizabeth I of England: Correspondence, etc., rel to her proposed French match: 1571: Copies.
• ff. 63v-67 Sir Henry Killigrew, diplomatist: Instructions on his embassy to France: 1571: Copy.
• f. 67v Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester: Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Letter to Robert Dudley from Sir Francis Walsingham: 1571: Copy.
• f. 78 Sir Thomas Smith, Secretary of State: William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley: Letter to Sir Thomas Smith from William Cecil: 1571: Copy.
• ff. 82-105 Penelope Rich, née Devereux; wife of Robert, 3rd Baron Rich: Charles Blount, Baron Mountjoy; Earl of Devonshire: Discourse in defence of his marriage with Penelope Rich: 1606: Copy.
• ff. 106-128v Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet; antiquary: Tracts on English officers of state: 1602, 1603, n.d.: Copies.
• ff. 106-146v James I of England: Tracts by Sir R. Cotton and W. Camden, etc., on officers of state: 1601-1616, n.d.: Copies.
• ff. 126v-128v Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton: Tract by Sir R. Cotton on the Earls Marshall written for: 1602: Copy.
• f. 139 Elizabeth I of England: Commission to the Lord Treasurer, etc., to exercise the office of Earl Marshal: 1601: Copy.
• f. 141v James I of England: Commission to the Lord Treasurer, etc., to exercise the office of Earl Marshal: 1616: Copy.
• ff. 147-160 Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans: Charge at the sessions of the verge of court: early 17th cent.: Copy.
• ff. 160-163 Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans: Submission to the Lord Chancellor: 1621: Copy.
• ff. 181v-185 Robert Cecil, Viscount Cranborne; 1st Earl of Salisbury: Theobalds Park, county Hertfordshire: `The Hermit's Speech' , at Theobalds Park: 1594: Copy.
• f. 185 John Williams, Archbishop of York: Recusants: Letter to the Judges rel. to enlargement of recusants: 1622: Copy.
• ff. 185v-188v Henry Garnet, English Jesuit: Account of his execution: 1606: Copy.
• ff. 189-208 Sir Charles Cornwallis, diplomatist: John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol: Sir C. Cornwallis: Tract rel. to abortive marriages of Stuart princes with Spanish infantas , written for John Digby: 1622: Copy.
• ff. 209-230 Exchequer: Tract on old debts owing to the king: circa temp. James I: Copy.
• ff. 209-230 James I of England: Tracts on old debts owing to the king: circa temp James I: Copy.
• f. 231 Sir Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland: Benjamin Jonson, dramatist and poet: Congratulatory verses to Sir Richard Weston: 1633: Copy.
• f. 231 Poetry ENGLISH: Ben Jonson: Congratulatory verses to the Earl of Portland: 1633: Copy.