Add MS 32379

"DISCOURSES" of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper [1558- 1579], copied by Thomas Myuiattes, "a poore clerke whoe have served in her Majestys Courte of Starr Chamber ever since his tyme," having come to his hands "by y^e guifte of one of his sonnes [Anthony Bacon], nowe in France." Preceded by a dedicatory letter to Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor [1587-1591], including the passage:-"Some matters there are in this booke.......not of my Lord Keepers doings; albeit, findinge them amongest these matters as thinges he took notice of, I allso did heere sett them doune. But in the other booke of his discourses, which I presented to your honorable Lordship before, I take are conteyned no other matters then his owne." The signature "Chr. Hatton" is on the vellum cover. The contents are:-

1. Sir N. Bacon to Queen Elizabeth, urging her to "assiste the Prince" [of Orange], to "assure Scotlande," and to "make all safe at home"; Gorhambury, 21 Mar. 1577[8], 6 May, 1578. ff. 5, 8.

2. "A second speeche of the Lord Keeper of great consequence, against the reteyning of the French denizens in England"; n.d. f. 10.

3. "A second speeche of the Lord Keeper concerninge her Majestys mariage and her successor": the petition of both Houses, 10 Nov. 1566. Followed by the Queen's answer. (See-Parl.Hist.i.pp.710, 714.) ff. 17, 21.

4. "The Quenes....oration in the Parliament House, 15 March, anno dni. 1576 " [i.e., 1575-6]. f. 22.

5. "A letter written by the Duke of Northfolke [Thomas Howard], then beinge in the Tower, to the Counsaille, after the signinge of his submission"; 15 July, 1570. f. 25.

6. "Articles devised for the bringinge vp in vertue and lerninge of the Queenes Majestys wardes beinge heires males," etc.; preceded (f. 26) by a letter from Sir N. Bacon to Sir W. Cecil, 17 May, 1561, in which he says that they were framed by him when attorney to the Court of Wards. f. 29.

7. "A remembrance howe to proceede to the vnderstandinge of the state of your Majestys revennewe and of the reformacon of the vnnecessarie expences thereof." f. 34.

8. "An exhortacion or rule wherbie the L. Maior of London is to order himselfe and the cittye," addressed (see list of contents, f. 3 b) by "one Mr. [Thomas] Norton, sometyme remembrauncer of London," to (see f. 39 b) James Hawes, Lord Mayor in 1574. (Printed by J. P. Collier, Illustrations of Old English Literature, 1866, vol. III.) f. 36. On f. 41 b are directions "towcheinge the contagion of sickenes"; advising "that vnnecessarie and scarselie honeste resortes to plaies, to shewes, to thoccasion of thronge and presse, except to the servyce of God, and especiallie the assemblies to the vnchaste shamelesse and vnnaturall tomblinge of the Italion weomen maye be avoided." 9. "Certen discourses which the Prince of Orenge had with......... (sic) at sundry tymes, sett downe by the Lord Keeper," on the designs of the King of Spain. f. 44.

10. Sir Francis Walsingham to Thomas Norton (see above, art. 8.), asking for "a note in writinge or discourse" on "the disorderlie dealinge of promoters," or informers; Windsor Castle, 6 Oct. 1577. Followed by Norton's answer; "Sharpenham" [Sharpenhoe, co. Bedf.], 9 Oct. 1577. (Printed by J. P. Collier, with art. 8). ff. 52, 52 b.

11. "A letter of the Duke of Norfolke to his sonne Phillipp" [Howard, aft. Earl of Arundel]; 11 Feb. [1572]. (See Bayley, Hist. of the Tower, Part ii., 1825, app. p. LXVII.) f. 57.

12. Letters of advice from Sir Thoinas Wyat to his son [Sir Thomas Wyat, the younger]; Paris, 15 Apr., and n.d. (See Nott, Works, 1815, ii., p. 265, but without the last sentence of the second letter, in which the writer mentions his daughter [in law] Jane and his "daughter Besse"). ff. 59, 61.

13. Letters of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, to the Queen "after his last comittinge to the Tower"; "From your highnes wofull Tower," 10 Sept. 1571, f. 63;-to the Queen, "after his atainder"; 21 Jan. 1571[2], f. 64;-to his children, with a prayer; 26 Jan. [1572], f. 66.

14. "The consideracion of the accion in the Lowe Contries"-"by the Lord Tresorer [Lord Burghley] as I suppose" (see list of contents, f. 4); circ. 1585. f. 73. Paper; ff. 81. A.D. 1587-1591. Small Quarto.

Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper: Discourses: 1587-1591.

Elizabeth I of England: Discourses of Sir N. Bacon on state affairs, and other political pieces: circ. 1590.

Thomas Myvatts, Clerk of the Star Chamber: Transcripts of discourses of Sir N. Bacon: 1587-1591.

includes:

• f. 10 France General Chronicles and History, etc: Speech of Sir N. Bacon on French denizens in England: temp. Eliz.
• ff. 17, 21 England; Parliament: Addresses to Qu. Elizabeth for her marriage, with answers: 1562, 1566.
• ff. 17, 21 Elizabeth I of England: Petition to, from Parliament for her marriage, with answer: 1566.
• f. 22 Elizabeth I of England: Queen's Speech in Parliament: 1576.
• f. 25 Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk: Letter to the Council: 1570.: Copy.
• ff. 26, 29 Wards: Articles on educating the Queen's wards, etc.: 1561.
• f. 34 Revenue: On the state and reformation of the Revenue, by Sir N. Bacon: temp. Eliz.
• f. 36 Thomas Norton, Remembrancer of the City of London: Rule for the Lord Mayor to order himself and the city: 1574.
• f. 36 London, England: Rule for the Lord Mayor to order himself and the city: 1574.
• f. 41 b Drama: Advice against resorting to plays, to prevent spread of infection: 1574.
• f. 41 b Manners and Customs: Advice against resorting to plays and other entertainments in London: 1574.
• f. 44 Philip II of Spain: Discourse of the Prince of Orange on the designs of Spain: temp. Eliz.
• ff. 44-51 William, Princes of Orange; Count of Nassau: Discourses on the designs of Spain: temp. Eliz.
• ff. 52, 52 b Thomas Norton, Remembrancer of the City of London: Correspondence with Sir F. Walsingham on informers: 1577.: Copies.
• ff. 52, 52 b Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Correspondence with T. Norton on informers: 1577.: Copies.
• f. 57 Philip Howard, afterwards Earl Of Arundel: Letter to, from his father: 1572.: Copy.
• f. 57 Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk: Letter to his son Philip: 1572.: Copy.
• ff. 59, 61 Sir Thomas Wyat, senior: Letters to his son Thomas: [1538-1539].: Copies.
• ff. 63, 64, 66 Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk: Letters to Qu. Elizabeth, and to his children: 1571, 1572.: Copies.
• f. 73 Netherlands, United Provinces: Consideration of the action in the Low Countries, by Lord Burghley: circ. 1585.
• f. 73 Sir William Cecil, Baron Burghley 1571; Lord Treasurer 1572: Consideration of the action in the Low Countries: circ. 1585.