Add MS 32091

Volume I of state papers and documents owned by the Malet family, baronets, of Wilbury, Wiltshire. Covering the period 1087-1575.

ff. 1r-2v Transcript of the foundation charter of Battle Abbey, Sussex [1086-1087]. Latin. Another copy is in Harley Ch. 83 A. 12.

ff. 3r-12v Leaves from a manuscript containing correspondence between the English and Papal Courts in the 12th century. Parchment. Latin.

ff. 13r-20v Poem on the Battle of Bannockburn [1314], by Robert Baston, Carmelite Friar. Latin. At the end is written: ‘Extract[um] ex manuscripto codice Johannis Fordeni in Bibliotheca Edinburgena, per Guil[elmum] Henderson, Bibliothecarium, July 27 Anno Domini 1672’.

ff. 21r-24v Extracts from the Rolls of Parliament, 4, 5, 8, 13 Edward III [1330-1; 1331-2; 1334-5; 1339-40].

ff. 25r-31v Extracts from the Patent Rolls, 20 Richard II and 2, 5 Henry IV [1396-7; 1400-1; 1403-4]. Latin.

f. 32r Notes on the prices of commodities, 6 Henry VI [1427-8]. Copied from a book of the household expenses of Richard Beauchamp, 5th Earl of Warwick.

f. 33r Petition sent from the House of Commons to King Henry VI. Against William De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. [c. 1450].

ff. 34r-35v Petition sent from the House of Commons to King Henry VI. Against the late Parliament held at Coventry. 39 Henry VI [September 1460-March 1461].

ff. 36r-43v Marriage treaty between Henry, Prince of Wales, and Katharine of Aragon, widow of his brother Arthur. [c. 1502]. Contemporary draft, with corrections. Latin. A fragment of the original draft is in Harley MS 295, f. 101.

ff. 44r-82v Political tract titled ‘The tree of comon welth’ by Edmund Dudley, late Councillor to King Henry VII, prisoner in the Tower of London. [1509-1510]. With a vellum cover. Another copy is in Harley MS 2204.

ff. 83r-104v Copies of letters from English ambassadors in the Low Countries to King Henry VIII. June 1512-August 1514. Copies are in Cotton MS Galba B III.

ff. 105r-106v Copy of a letter from Richard Croke, afterwards Greek Reader at Christ Church College, Oxford, to Martin Leubel of Leipzig. London, 23 October [1515]. In the hand of George Harbin. Latin.

ff. 107r-110v Letter from King Henry VIII to Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Requiring good behaviour from Stafford’s tenants in the Marches of Wales. [Pre-1524]. Copy made from the Chancery Rolls of 10 May 1594.

ff. 111r-115v Answer from King Henry VIII to articles of instruction given by King James V of Scotland to Patrick Sinclair. [c. July 1524].

ff. 116r-117v Letter from King Henry VIII to King James V of Scotland. Protesting against the attack on Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Hampton Court, 1 October [1528].

f. 118r Copy of the sentence of Pope Clement VII in favour of Katharine of Aragon. Rome, [11 July] 1534. Latin. Spanish translation in Cotton MS Vitellius B XIV, f. 56r.

ff. 119r-120v Copy of an order from King Henry VIII to the Justices of Peace. To report on the conduct of the Bishops with regard to his new title of ‘supreme hede ynmediatly vnder god in erthe of the Churche of Englond’. [25 June 1535]. Other copies are in Cotton MS Cleopatra E VI (f. 214r) and Harley MS 283 (f. 104r).

ff. 121r-123v Copy of a commission of a visitation. Granted by Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex. 27 Henry VIII [1535-6].

ff. 124r-130v Two letters from Sir Thomas Wharton, Warden of the West Marches, to Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford and Lord Warden of all the English Marches. On the state of the Borders. Carlisle, 3 and 8 November 1542.

ff. 131r-135v Copies of letters from King Henry VIII to the University of Oxford. Concerning the condemnation of John Wycliffe, and condemning the Pope’s supremacy. [April 1541-April 1542].

ff. 136r-137v Letter from King Henry VIII to James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran and Governor of Scotland. Reprimanding him for revolting ‘unto your adverse partie’. Ampthill, 27 October 1543.

ff. 138r-139r Copy of secret instructions from King Henry VIII to his ambassadors with Emperor Charles V of Germany. [1519-1547].

f. 140r-140v Copy of a letter from James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran and Governor of Scotland, to Pope Paul III. On the measures taken for punishing the murderers of Cardinal David Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews. Linlithgow, 26 April 1547. Latin.

ff. 140v-141v Copy of a letter from James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran and Governor of Scotland, to King Henry II of France. On the capture of the Scottish ambassadors to France by English forces. Stirling, 14 May 1547. French.

ff. 142r-143v Letter from Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, to one Mason, Royal Visitor of Sees. Against homilies on justification by faith only. Waltham, 30 August 1547.

ff. 144r-144v Petition from George Browne, son of Sir Humfrey Browne, Justice of Common Pleas, to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector. [1547-1552]. Vellum.

ff. 145r-146v Copy of an order sent from Queen Mary I to the University of Oxford. For the due observance of the statutes of the University. Richmond, 20 August 1553.

ff. 147r-148v Considerations as to why religious lands taken by King Henry VII may be held by dispensation. 1554. Latin. On the back is a note by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury: ‘The Original of this is in the Kinges Paper Office at White-Hall, April 16 1616’.

f. 149r-149v Copy of a letter from Sir John Cheke, possibly to Cardinal Reginal Pole, Archbishop of Canterbury. On his recantation. Tower of London, 15 July 1556. Latin.

f. 150r-150v Copy of a letter from Sir John Cheke to Queen Mary I. On his recantation. Tower of London, 15 July 1556.

f. 151r Wine license issued by Philip and Mary to Robert Sheparde, of Romford, Essex, Yeoman of the Chamber. Signed by Queen Mary I and countersigned by Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor. Vellum.

ff. 152r-165v Copy of the will of Queen Mary I. Copied by George Harbin ‘from the Originall in Mr Hale’s hands at Alderley in Gloucestershire’.

f. 166r-166v Petition of John Willoughbie, Doctor in Physic, to Queen Elizabeth I. For the manor and rectory of Hampsthwaite, West Riding, Yorkshire. Vellum.

ff. 167r-169v Copy of a letter from John Knox to Queen Elizabeth I. In defence of his book The first blast of the trumpet against the monstrous Regiment of women (1558). With marginal annotations in confutation. [c. 1559]. Knox’s letters on the same subject to Sir William Cecil are in Harley MS 7004, f. 1.

ff. 170r-171v Copy of instructions sent from Queen Elizabeth I to William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Lieutenant of Wiltshire and Somerset. 26 May 1559.

ff. 172r-173v Letter from John Aylmer, Archdeacon of Stow and later Bishop of London, to Sir Robert Dudley, Master of the Horse and later Earl of Leicester. Asking for the Deanery of Winchester of Durham. Minories, 12 August 1559.

ff. 174r-175v Instructions sent from the Scottish Privy Council to William Maitland, Laird of Lethington and Secretary of State for Scotland, on his embassy to England. Stirling, 10 November 1559. Signed by: James Hamilton, Duke of Chatelherault; Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll; Alexander Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn; Lord James Stewart, Prior of St. Andrews; Andrew Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes; Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Baron Ruthven; Robert Boyd, 4th Baron Boyd; John Graham, 5th Earl of Menteith; John Maxwell, 7th Baron Maxwell; and Andrew Stewart, 2nd Baron Ochiltree.

ff. 176r-177v Letter from Elizabeth Brydges, alias Bruges, wife of John Bruges, 1st Baron Chandos, to Sir Robert Dudley. On the imprisonment of her daughter on the pretence of bewitching her husband, George Throckmorton. [Pre-1560].

f. 178r-178v Wine licence issued by Queen Elizabeth I to Robert Sheparde, of Romford, Essex, Yeoman of the Chamber. [1560]. Vellum.

f. 179r-178v Copy of a letter from Peter Martyr to Edmund Grindall, Bishop of London. On his being made a Bishop. Zurich, 28 January 1560. Latin.

ff. 180-181v Letter from Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, English ambassador in France, to Sir Robert Dudley. Concerning his negotiations. Amboise, 22 May 1560. Partly in cipher.

ff. 182r-184v Letter from Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk and Lieutenant General of the North, to James Hamilton, Duke of Chatelherault, and the Lords of the Congregation in Scotland. Berwick, 30 May 1560. With a portrait of Howard.

ff. 185r-186v Letter from Edwin Sandys, Bishop of Worcester, to Sir Robert Dudley. On a new canon against confirming leases of livings held by resident incumbents. Worcester, 20 July 1560.

ff. 187r-188v Letter from Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, to Sir Robert Dudley. On news from the French Court. Paris, 11 February 1560/1.

ff. 189r-192v Letter from James Stewart, Prior of St. Andrews, to his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, in France, on her approaching return to Scotland. Edinburgh, 10 June 1561.

ff. 193r-194v Letter from William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary of Scotland and ambassador in England, to Mary, Queen of Scots. Concerning the interview and meeting of the two Queens. Greenwich, 10 June 1562.

ff. 195r-198v Copy of a letter from William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary of Scotland and ambassador in England, to Mary, Queen of Scots. Concerning his interview with the Spanish ambassador. Westminster, 9 March 1562/3.

ff. 199r-200v Letter from William Cecil to William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary of Scotland and ambassador in England. For unity of action in the two realms against Antichrist. Windsor, 20 August 1563.

ff. 201r-202v Tract signed by Laurence Humphrey, Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford, and Thomas Sampson, Dean of Christ Church. Titled ‘Humfredus de re vestiaria’ or ‘Summa Controuersie de re vestiaria inter Bucerum et Alasco.’ [1564]. Latin.

ff. 203r-204v Paper titled ‘Principi non parendum formam vestium Ministris precipienti’ [1564].

f. 205r-205v Letter from Rodulf Gwalter, Protestant divine of Zurich, to some English divines. On vestments. Zurich, 3 November 1565.

f. 206r Draft letter from Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Sir Christopher Hatton. On the audacity of certain ministers. With autograph corrections. Croydon, 1 June 1566. Latin.

f. 207r-207v Aquittance of Thomas Young, Archbishop of York, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, for one year’s rent of Southwell Manor, Nottinghamshire. 16 December 1566.

f. 208r-208v Copy of a bond of Scottish Lords against James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. For the taking and keeping captive of Mary, Queen of Scots. Stirling, 1 May 1567.

f. 209r-209v Paper titled ‘Answer to the instructiouns of our maist noble Soverayn and hir derrest Spous the Duke of Orknay committit to the credit of my Lord Boyd, communicat to the Erle of Mortoun the xxviij day of Maii 1567, at the forrest Kirk’. [1567].

f. 210r-210v Letter from the Confederate Lords of Scotland to Patrick Gray, 5th Baron Gray. Summoning him to their council at Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 12 June 1567. Signed by: James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton; John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar; Robert Sempill, 3rd Baron Sempill; Patrick Lindsay, 6th Baron Lindsay; and Robert Crichton, 4th Baron Sanquhar.

ff. 211r-212v Letter from the Privy Council to Thomas Young, Archbishop of York and President of the Council of the North. Concerning his disrespectful speech in public against them. Richmond, 15 July 1567. Signed by: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke; Edward Clinton, 9th Baron Clinton; William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham; Edward Rogers; and William Cecil.

ff. 213r-214v Letter from James Stewart, Earl of Moray and Regent of Scotland, to John Wood, Scottish ambassador in England. Refusing to recall him and sending news on the Borders. Edinburgh, 13 July 1568. Partly in cipher.

f. 215r Letter from William Cecil, Secretary of State, to Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury. Concerning Sir John Southworth’s imprisonment for nonconformity. Court at Havering, 15 July 1568.

ff. 216r-217v Paper titled ‘The trew declaratioun and Report of me James Erll of Mortoun, how a certane siluer box ovrgilt, conteyning dyverse missive writtinges, sonettz, contractes, and obligations for marriage betwix the Queen mother to our soveran lord, and James sumtyme Erll bothwell, wes found and usit’. Copy presented to the Privy Council, 29 December 1568.

ff. 218r-219v Letter from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to James Stewart, Earl of Moray and Regent of Scotland. Requesting him to send William Maitland, Laird of Lethington and Secretary of State for Scotland as ambassador. 17 May 1569.

ff. 220r-221v Letter from William Cecil, Secretary of State, to Matthew Stuart, 4th Earl of Lennox. Concerning the readiness of Queen Elizabeth I to listen to the offers of Mary, Queen of Scots. Oatlands, 18 June 1570.

ff. 222r-235v Political tract by George Buchanan, titled ‘Chamæleon, Written By Mr George Buchanan against the Laird of Lethington, Secretary of Scotland, 1570’. Followed by ‘An Invective against the Family of Hamiltone, by Mr George Buchanan, 1570’. Printed in 1710.

ff. 236r-237v Letter from Sir Henry Norreys, ambassador in France, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Concerning matters in France. Paris, 3 January 1570/1.

ff. 238r-239v Letter from Edwin Sandys, Bishop of London, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On Queen Elizabeth I’s displeasure towards Sandys. 19 January 1570/1.

ff. 240r-241v Letter from Sir John Perrot to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the state of Irish affairs. Cork, 20 May 1571.

ff. 242r-243v Letter from Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of York, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the miserable state of his see. Bishopsthorpe, 16 July 1571.

ff. 244r-245v Letter from Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland, to his brother-in-law Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the loss of his English estate through serving in Ireland. Halden [Kent], 20 July 1571.

ff. 246r-247v Letter from Christopher Goodman, Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford and Archdeacon of Richmond, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On his imprisonment. London, 25 July 1571.

ff. 248r-251v Letter from John Hales, alias Hayles, of Halden, Kent, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On his dispute with Sir Ralph Sadler. Putteridge, 28 July 1571.

ff. 252r-253v Letter from Acerbo Velutelli, Italian merchant residing in England, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Relating to his merchandise. London, 2 August 1571. Italian.

ff. 254r-255v Letter from John Wake, Surveyor of Forests, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the state of Whittlewood Forest, in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire, 8 November 1571.

f. 256r-256v Copy of a letter from Richard Cox, Bishop of Ely, to Rodulf Gwalter, Protestant divine of Zurich. On his hostile attitude towards English prelates. Isle of Ely, 11 February 1571/2. Latin.

ff. 257-260v Letter from Sir John Perrot to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the state of Irish affairs. Cork, 20 April 1572.

ff. 261r-263v Letter from Sir Francis Walsingham, ambassador in France, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the proposed union of England and Scotland. Paris, 8 October 1572. With an engraved portrait of Walsingham.

ff. 264r-265v Letter from Edmund Freke, Bishop of Rochester, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the payment of first fruits of his see. Bromley, 12 January 1572/3.

ff. 266r-267v Letter from Edwin Sandys, Bishop of London, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Discussing the Portuguese ambassador’s use of the mass. Fulham, 4 March 1572/3.

ff. 268r-269v Letter from William Downham, Bishop of Chester, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the need for good preachers in his see. Chester, 21 March 1572/3.

ff. 270r-271v Deposition of Alexander Home, 5th Baron Home. On the causes of his defection from the party of King James VI of Scotland. 31 July 1573. Signed by Home and his examiners: Alan Cathcart, 4th Earl Cathcart; Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoule, Justice Clerk; James Haliburton, Provost of Dundee; George Douglas of Parkheid, Captain of Edinburgh Castle; and Sir Alexander Hay of Easter Kennet, Lord CIerk Register.

ff. 272r-273v Deposition of William Kirkcaldy, of Grange. 3 August 1573. Signed by Kirkcaldy and his examiners: Robert Boyd, 4th Baron Boyd; Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoule, Justice Clerk; James Lawsone, Minister of the Kirk of Edinburgh; and Sir Alexander Hay of Easter Kennet, Lord Clerk Register.

ff. 274r-275v Letter from Henry Knolles, Senior, to Sir John Thynne, of Longleat. Sending court and foreign news.

f. 276r-276v Letter from Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, to an unknown recipient. On private matters. Hanworth, 2 December 1573.

f. 277r-277v Letter from Sir Edward Seymour of Bury Pomeroy to his brother Edward, Earl of Hertford. On the disposition of his estates. Paris, 18 September 1574.

ff. 278r-279v Letter from Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Royal Household, to Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex and Governor of Ulster. On his offer to Queen Elizabeth I to join him in Ireland. 8 April 1575.