Add MS 33746

(Gr. xii.) " MEMOIRS taken out of the notes of S^ir Henry Sidney, Knt. (ob. 1586), sometime Lord Deputy of Ireland, and out of the Lord Cecills [sc. Lord Burghley's] papers ab Anno 1530 ad Annum 1566 [really ending in 1544], as they were collected by James Usher, late Primat of all Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh " (ob. 1656). The contents are in the form of a chronicle of events, more particularly relating to ecclesiastical affairs, with a strong Protestant bias. Many of the entries, however, are of doubtful authenticity, e.g. an account of the demolition of the ,shrine of St. Thomas at Canterbury in presence of Henry VIII., with the king's remarks at the time and his speech to tha Privy Council on the subject (see Engli8h Historical Review, Oct. 1891). The whole volume (cf. Add. 4813) is in the hand of Robert Ware, son of Sir James Ware, and author of The Hunting of the Romish Fox, 1683; and the genuine portions of its contents are chiefly copied, almost without alteration, from Mor-an Godwin's Annales of England, 1630, translated from the Latin Annales of Bishop Francis Godwin, his father, 1616. lt appears therefore to belong to a series of Anti-Catholic forgeries by Robert Ware, mostly purporting to be derived from the same sources as these memoirs (see Rev. J. E. Bridgett, Blunders and Forgeries, 1890, pp. 209-296). Paper; ff. 46. Late xviith cent. Small Quarto.

Robert Ware: Memoirs of events, 1530-1544, forged by: late 17th cent.

James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh: Memoirs of events, 1530-44, alleged to have been collected by: late 17th cent.

Colonel Henry Sydney, Viscount Sydney (1689) and Earl of Romney (1694) Envoy to Holland; Secretary of State: Memoirs of events, 1530-44, alleged to be from notes of: late 17th cent.

Henry VIII of England: Memoirs of events 1530-1544. Forgery by Robert Ware: late 17th cent.

Sir William Cecil, Baron Burghley 1571; Lord Treasurer 1572: Memoirs of events, 1530-1544, alleged to be from papers of: late 17th cent.

includes:

• f. 31 Canterbury; Christ Church Priory and Cathedral: Forged account of the demolition of Becket's tomb: late 17th cent.