Add MS 70001

This volume is largely composed of the papers of Sir Robert Harley (bap. 1579, d. 1656) of Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire, 1604-1630. However, it opens with a letter to his father Thomas Harley (c. 1543-1631) and with copies of a letter of the divine Samuel Ward (1603). It seems probable that the manuscripts were initially organised by Sir Robert himself: some of his endorsements refer to letters to or from 'my' father, uncle or self.

This volume has been calendared in Historical Manuscripts Commission, The Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Portland: preserved at Welbeck Abbey, 10 vols (London: Printed for HMSO by Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1891-1931), III, 1-27. The Portland collection is largely made up from the archives of the Harleys of Brampton Bryan and other families from whom the Dukes of Portland flowed. They were deposited at the British Museum (then as Loan 29) and elsewhere between 1947 and 1967 by the 7th Duke of Portland. In 1987 this was one of 523 volumes of the Portland Papers allocated to the British Library (the papers had been accepted by the Government in 1986 in lieu of Capital Transfer Tax).

Contents:

f. 1r-2v: Letter of Sir James Croft, Comptroller (signing as 'Jimmy Croft') to his cousin Thomas Harley, the Court, 9 Apr 1582. With address. With signature and probably in Croft's own hand throughout.

ff. 3r-4v, 5r-v: Passage from letter of Samuel Ward to William Bedell, Bury St Edmunds, 21 Apr 1603. Two copies. Concerning governing elders.

ff. 6r-7v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, Hampton Court, 14 Dec [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address.

ff. 8r-9v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, Hampton Court, 11 Nov [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 10r-v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, 'my powre house', 15 Nov [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address and seal.

f. 11r: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Philippa, Lady Coningsby, [Nov 1604?]. Draft. This is evidently the letter alluded to in Lady Philippa's letter of 17 Nov 1604 (ff. 12r-13v).

f. 11v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Sir Thomas Coningsby, [Nov 1604?]. Draft.

ff. 12r-13v: Letter of Philippa, Lady Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley (at 'Bromton', i.e. Brampton Bryan, Castle,) Hampton Court, 17 Nov 1604. With her signature; it is also possibly in her hand (and is certainly the same hand as the body of the text on f. 16r, with address and seals.

ff. 14r-15v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, Leominster, 24 Nov [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 16r-17v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Thomas Cornwall of Burford, Shropshire (Sir Robert Harley uncle), Hampton Court, 26 Nov 1604. Coningsby's signature (the hand is the same as f. 12r). With address and seals.

ff. 18r-v: Letter of Thomas Harley to Thomas Cornwall, 7 Dec 1604. Copy, probably a draft.

ff. 19r-20v: Letter of Thomas Cornwall to Thomas Harley, 7 Dec 1604. With address but no signature.

ff, 21r-22v: Letter of Thomas Harley to his son Sir Robert Harley (at the Sign of the Golden Purse in Fleet Street. In Thomas Harley's hand and with his signature. With address. Beneath the address he asks for the copy of his brother Thomas Cornwall's letter to be sent to him, Brampton Bryan Castle, 8 Dec 1604.

ff. 23r-24v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Thomas Harley, Hampton Court, 24 Dec [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 25r-26v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, 'my powre house', 24 Dec [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 27r-v: Letter of Thomas Cornwall to Thomas Harley, 25 Dec [1604]. With Cornwall's signature and the letter is probably in his hand.

ff. 28r-29v: Letter of Thomas Harley to Sir Robert Harley, 25 Dec [1604]. With signature; letter in Thomas Harley's hand. With seals.

f. 30r: Letter of Thomas Harley to [?Sir Thomas Coningsby], Brampton Bryan Castle, 26 Dec [1604]. In Harley's hand and with his signature.

ff. 31r-v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Thomas Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), 'my powre house', 28ff. Dec [1604]. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 32r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Sir Thomas Coningsby, London, 19 Jan 1605. Copy, probably draft.

ff. 33r-v: Letter of Thomas Harley to Sir Robert Harley, 20 Jan [1605]. In Thomas's hand, with signature, address and seal.

ff. 34r-35v: Letter of Thomas Harley to Sir Robert Harley (at the Sign of the Golden Purse, Fleet Street), 26 Jan [1605]. In Thomas's hand, with signature, address and seal.

ff. 36r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Ann Coningsby, 8 May 1605. Copy, probably draft.

ff. 37r-38r: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, 'my powre house', 19 May 1605. With signature, and letter possibly in Coningsby's hand. With address.

ff. 39r-40v: Warrant of John, 1st Baron Stanhope to all mayors and other royal officers, Whitehall, 11 June 1606. To furnish Sir Robert Harley with three good post horses for his journey to Shrewsbury on the King's business.

ff. 41r-v: Letter of C. Owens to [Sir Robert Harley], 7 Oct 1606. Endorsed 'from my Tutor'. in Owens's hand.

ff. 42r-43v: Warrant of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham to all mayors and other royal officers, Whitehall, Dec 1606. For provision of post horses for Sir Robert Harley, journeying from Court to Eyton-on-Severn on the King's business. With seal.

ff. 44r-45v: A prayer of St Thomas Aquinas, translated by Sir Robert Harley, 1606.

ff. 47r-49v: Speech of Nicholas Fuller in Parliament, 4 [recte 14] Feb 1607 (ff. 47r-48r) with the answer of Sir Francis Bacon (ff. 48v-49v). Copy. This and ff. 50r-52r are in the same hand. For another copy, see ff. 54r-61r.

ff. 50r-52r: Exchange between Sir Francis Bacon and Nicholas Fuller in Parliament, and interventions of other MPs, 28 Nov 1606. Copy, in the same hand as ff. 47r-49v.

ff. 54r-61r: Copy of speech of Nicholas Fuller in Parliament (ff. 54r-56v), 14 Feb 1607, and response of Sir Francis Bacon (ff 58r-61r). Copy. See ff. 47r-49v for another copy.

ff. 62r-63v: Letter of Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset to the High Sheriff of Radnor [i.e. Sir Robert Harley], Dorset House, 43 Mar 1607. With signature and address.

ff. 64r-90r: Booklet of notes of debates in the House of Commons on the Union between England and Scotland, and on a debate on behalf of the Spanish merchants, Apr-May 1607. Evidently notes taken at or written up from the time of the debate.

ff. 91r-92v: Letter of Ralph Eure, 3rd Baron Eure to Sir Robert Harley, 28 May 1608. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 93r-94v: Letter of Ralph Eure, 3rd Baron Eure to Sir Robert Harley, Ludlow Castle, 12 Aug 1608. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 95r-96v: Letter of Richard Griffith to Sir Robert Harley, Purslow, 16 Aug 1608.

ff. 97r-98v: Letter of Clement Edmondes to Sir Robert Harley, Hampton Court, 7 Oct 1610. Commanded by 'my lls' [the Privy Council] to bring Sir Edward Herbert to Hampton Court.

ff. 99r-111r: Notes of debates in the House of Commons, 5 and 6 Nov 1610, upon a memorial sent down by the King asking for £500,000. In the same form (notebook) and same size as ff. 64r-90r, but in a different hand. Evidently notes taken at or written up from the time of the debate.

ff. 113r-114v: Letter of Thomas Peacocke to James Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Oxford, 13 Jun 1611. In Peacocke's hand throughout; with address; wndorsement notes it as 'to my Bro: James Harley'.

ff. 115r-116r: Letter of Thomas Peacocke to Sir Robert Harley (at London or elsewhere), Brasenose College, Oxford, 8 Aug 1611. In Peacock's hand throughout, with address and seal.

ff. 117r-v: Letter of Thomas Peacoce to Sir Robert Harley (London), Brasenose College, 4 Oct 1611. In Peacock's hand throughout; with address and fragment of seal. Note that the letter is to be left with Mrs Anne Lawley at Lady Damvers' house near Charing Cross.

ff. 118r-119v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Thomas Peacocke (at Brasenose College, Oxford), London, 18 [possibly 8] Nov 1611. In Harley's hand, with address and fragment of seal. He gives his detailed address as his lodgings in Blackfriars, at the house of Mr Archer, clockmaker.

ff. 120r-v: Letter of William Rogerson to Sir Robert Harley, Stockton, 2 Feb 1612. With Rogerson's signature and probably in his hand throughout.

ff. 121r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to 'My Much Honored Cosin', Blackfriars, 25 Feb 1613. [Not calendared in HMC, Portland Manuscripts, III).

ff. 122r-123v: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley (at his lodgings in Blackfriars near the Glass House, London), Bletsoe, 30 Mar 1612. In Peirson's hand throughout, with address and seal.

ff. 124r-v: Letter of John Donne to Sir Robert Harley, Montgomery, 7 Apr 1613. With Donne's signature, and probably in his hand throughout; with address and seals.

ff. 125r-126v: Letter of William Gouge to Sir Robert Harley, Blackfriars, 24 Jun 1613. In Gouge's hand throughout; with address.

ff. 127r-128v: Warrant of King James I to Sir Robert Harley as Keeper of Bringewood Forst, Oatlands, 4 Jul 1613. Signed by King James.

ff. 129r-130v: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley (at Stanage), Brampton Bryan, 29 Jan 1614. In Piwrson's hand throughout; with address and seal.

ff. 130r-131v: Rate Assessment, by parish, for furnishing 100 men in the King's force in Ireland, set by Herefordshire Deputy Lieutenants, 10 Jun 1614.

ff. 132r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to [Robert Bennet, ] Bishop of Hereford, 1 Sep 1615. Draft in Harley's hand.

ff. 133r-134v: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan, 8 Sep 1615. In Pierson's hand throughout; with address and seal.

ff. 135r-136v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to [Robert Bennet,] Bishop of Hereford, 3 Nov 1615. Copy [probably draft].

ff. 137r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to [Robert Bennet,] Bishop of Hereford, Stanage Lodge, Herefordshire, 20 Jan 1616. Copy, probably draft, in Harley's own hand.

ff. 138r-v: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan, 3 Feb 1616. In Pierson's hand throughout; with address and seal.

ff. 139v-140r: Letter of Sir Herbert Croft to Sir Robert Harley, Croft, 27 Oct 1616. With signature (and probably in Croft's hand throughout). With address and seals. Asking for a copy of a clause in his grandmother's will, and enclosing a rental of lands in Leinthall Starkes 'which my coosen Harley did passe unto mee' (f. 141r).

ff. 142r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to his cousin Alice Warburton, 28 Oct 1616. In Harley's hand: copy, probably draft.

ff. 143r-144v: Letter of Sir Robert Needham to Sir Robert Harley, Shavington, 6 Apr 1617. In Needham's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 145r-146v: Letter of George Throckmorton to Sir Robert Harley (at his house in Aldermanbury), London, 30 Apr 1617. In Throgmorton's hand throughout; with address.

ff. 147r-v: Letter of Sir E[dward] Herbert to Sir Robert Harley (at Stanage, Herfordshire), 17 Jul 1617. In Herbert's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 148r-149v: Letter of Sir James Fullerton to Sir Robert Harley, London, 21 Jul 1617. With signature and address.

ff. 150r-v: Letter of Sir E[dward] Herbert to Sir Robert Harley, n.d. [1617]. In Herbert's hand; with address and seals.

ff. 151r-152v: Letter of Sir E[dward] Herbert to Sir Robert Harley, 8 Jun 1618. In Herbert's hand; with address and seals.

f. 153r: Letter of Sir E[dward] Herbert to Sir Robert Harley, 8 Sep 1618. In Herbert's hand; with address and seals.

ff. 154r-v: Letter of William Rowley to Sir Robert Harley, Shrewsbury, 26 Oct 1618. In Rowley's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 155r-156v: Letter of Sir Charles Howard to Sir Robert Harley, Salisbury House, 4 Dec 1618. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 157r-158v: Letter of George Herbert to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Charing Cross, 26 Dec 1618. Original. The signature has been lost (or removed), but the identification comes from Harley's endorsement, and he signs as Harley's 'most indebted Kinsman'.

ff. 159r-v: Letter of Sir E[dward] Herbert to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), 23 Jan 1619. In Herbert's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 160r-161v: Letter of [Francis Godwin,] Bishop of Hereford to Sir Robert Harley, Whitbourne, 5 Feb 1619. in Godwin's hand; with address.

ff. 162r-163v: Letter of Privy Council to William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton, Lord President of Wales and Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Whitehall, 28 April. With address. Endorsement states that this is a copy of the letter to all the Lord Lieutenants for the discharge of beacons.

ff. 164r-165v: Letter of John Brian [i.e Bruen] his cousin Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Stapleford, 4 Mar 1620. In Bruen's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 166r-167v: Letter of Achatius, Burgrave and Baron de Dona, to the Lord Lieutenant, other lords, Sheriff, Deputy Lieutenants and JPs of Herefordshire, Westminster, 4 Jun 1620. With signatures and address.

ff. 168r-169v: Letter of William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton to the Deputy Lieutenants of Northamptonshire, 3 Jul 1620. Withy address. Covering letter for ff. 166r-167v.

ff. 170r-171v: Warrant of King James I to the Ranger and Master of the Game of Bringewood Forest [Sir Robert Harley], 17 Jun 1620. To deliver to Thomas Harley, member of the Council in the Marches of Wales, two fat bucks. Signed by King James.

ff. 172r-176v: Names of those thought fit to contribute to the loan for Bohemia in named Herefordshire parishes, 12 Aug 1620.

ff. 177r-178v: Directions for the loan for the King and Queen of Bohemia in Herefordshire, Hereford, 15 Aug 1620.

ff. 179r-180v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, Hampton Court, 19 Aug 1620. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 181r-v: Direction of Sir Robert Harley, Robert Whitney and Humphrey Baskervile to the Chief Constable of Huntington Hundred, Herefordshire, 24 Aug 1620.

ff. 182r-183v: letter of William Compton, 1st earl of Northampton to the Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire, Ashby Castle, 30 Oct 1620. With address.

ff. 184r-191v: Lists of sums (subscribed?) on the loan for Bohemia in specified Herefordshire parishes, 31 Aug - 11 Sep 1620. On f. 190r are named the defaulters and refusers.

ff. 192r: Letter of Thomas Harley to the Constables of Leintwardine, 15 Sep 1620. Thomas Harley is the only signatory, but from first person plural of the text, others may have been intended.

f. 192v: List of JPs to appear for Bohemia.

ff. 193r-194v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley and James Tompkins, Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire, Hampton Court, 17 Sep 1620. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 195r-196v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Fitzwilliam Coningsby, Humphrey Cornwall and Francis Smallman, Brampton Bryan Castle. in Harley's hand, with address and seal.

ff. 197v-198v: Warrant of Thomas Harley, Sir Robert Harley and S. Griffiths to the Chief Constables of Wigmore Hundred, listing all those who have subscribed to the loan for the King and Queen of Bohemia., Leintwardine, 18 Sep 1620. For petty constables to collect upon the promised subscriptions.

ff. 199r-202v: Lists of subscribers to the loan to the King and Queen of Bohemia, and orders for payment, Radlow Hundred and Ledbury Borough, 26 Sep 1620.

ff. 203r-204v: Letter of Sir Thomas Coningsby to Sir Robert Harley, Hampton Court, 2 Oct 1620. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 205r-206v: Receipts upon the loan for Bohemia from named parishes and individuals from the Chief Constable of Wolphy Hundred at Hereford, 3 Oct 1620.

ff. 207r-208v: A note of the contributions of JPs (with their divisions) to the loan of Bohemia, Hereford, 4 Oct 1620.

ff. 209r-210v: Letter of Achatius, Burgrave and Baron de Dona, to the Lord Lieutenant, other lords, Sheriff, Deputy Lieutenants and JPs of Herefordshire, Westminster, 6 Nov 1620. With address and note from William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton directing it be sent to the Sheriff or Deputy Lieutenants.

ff. 211r-212v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to Sir Horace Vere, London, 14 Feb 1621. Draft in Harley's own hand.

ff. 213r-v: Letter of Thomas Gataker to Sir Robert Harley, Rotherhithe ['Rederith'], 22 Jun 1621. In Gataker's hand, with address and seal.

ff. 214r-v: Letter of Thomas Gataker to Sir Robert Harley (at Lady Leveson's house in Blackfriars), Rotherhithe ['Rederith'], 25 Jun 1621. In Gataker's hand, with address and seal.

ff. 215r-v: Letter of James Ussher to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampron Bryan Castle), Dublin, 9 Jul 1621. In Ussher's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 216r-217v: Letter of Nathaniel Ward to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), 6 Aug 1621. In Ward's hand, with address and seal.

ff. 218r-219v: Newsletter out of the Palatinate, [1621].

ff. 220r-221v: Letter of news out of Frankenthal, 17/27 Oct 1621.

ff. 222r-223v: Directions of Privy Council to Lords [Lord Lieutenants?], Whitehall, 24 Feb 1622. Concerning purveyance.

ff. 224r-v: Letter of Privy Council to Assize Judges, Whitehall, 2 Mar 1622.

ff. 225r-226v: Letter of Privy Council to the Council of Hereford, Whitehall, 31 Mar 1622.

ff. 227r-v: Letter of Walter Stephens to Sir Robert Harley, 18 Apr 1622. In Stephen's hand. with address and seal.

ff. 228r-229v: Letter of Sir Henry Wallop to Sir Robert Harley, Farleigh Wallop, 29 Apr 1622. With Wallop's signature, and probably in his hand throughout. With address and seal.

ff. 230r-231v: Letter of John Roystorne to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), [?May 1622]. In Roystorne's hand, with address and seal. Within the letter is a draft on Roystorne by Thomas Harley (probably to Sir Edward Herbert), dated Brampton Bryan, 23 May 1622.

ff. 232r-v: Newsletter, n.d. [before Sep 1622].

ff. 233r-234v: Letter of William Gouge to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), [Christ] Court, Blackfriars, London, [11] May 1622. Full address from Portland Manuscripts, III, 15, as now obscured by binding. In Gouge's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 235r-236v: Directive of [Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire] to [Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire], Ludlow Castle, 29 May 1622. Encloses letter from privy Council for viewing and mustering of trained bands.

ff. 237r-238v: Warrant of Prince Charles to [Sir Robert Harley], Keeper of Bringewood Chase, to deliver a buck to the bearer, Theobalds, 15 Jun 1622. Signed by Prince Charles.

ff. 239r-240v: Letter of Edward Waters to Sir Robert Harley (at Stanage Lodge), Burney [?Barney], 25 Jun 1622. Letter in Waters's hand, with address and seal.

f. 241r: A list of the several hundreds in Herefordshire, together with the sums raised in them for a voluntary contribution to the King 'towards the Recovery of the Patrimonie of his highness Children in Germanie', 13 July 1622.

f. 242r: Newsletter, dated Mannheim, 21 Jul 1622.

ff. 243r-244v: Letter of Sir John Kyrle, Fitzwilliam Coningsby, Roger Vaughan and Sir John Scudamore to [?Sir Robert Harley], n.d. [Jul 1622]. With signatures.

ff. 245r-v: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan, 3 Nov 1622. In Pierson's hand, with address and seal.

ff. 246r-247v: Letter of John Brian [i.e Bruen] to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Bruen Stapleford, 2 Jan 1623. With Bruen's signature, and probably in his hand throughout. With address and seal.

ff. 248r-249v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley, Theobalds, 15 Feb 1623. With Conway's signature. With address and seal.

ff. 250r-251v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley, Oatlands, 3 Jul 1623. With Conway's signature and letter in his hand; with address and seal.

ff. 252r-253v: Letter of Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison, F. Brooke, Sir Robert Cotton and Henry Spelman to Sir John Scudamore, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Richard Hopton, sir Humphrey Baskervile, John Rudhall, Frances Smallman, Whitehall, 7 Jul 1623. Appointing them commissioners in Herefordshire to examine into the subject of unjust charges and exactions reputed to be made in the Courts of Justice.

f. 254r: Letter of Brilliana Conway to Sir Robert Harley, 11 p.m., 25 Jul [1623]. In her hand and with her signature; with seal and address to 'to my honnored Cosen' Harley.

ff. 255r-256v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley, Andover, 25 Jul 1623. With signature; address (to Harley as 'my Lovinge sonne in Law' and seal.

ff. 257r-258v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Thomas Harley, Theobalds, 1 Oct 1623. With signature; address (to Thomas as 'my worthy freind and loving brother') and seal.

ff. 259r-v: Letter of Mary Fane to her cousin Sir Robert Harley, Sulehay Lodge ['Sewlhay-lodge'], 9 Jul 1623. With signature 9and probably in her hand throughout. With address and seal.

ff. 260r-261v: Warrant of King James I to Sir Robert Harley as Chief Ranger of Bringewood Chase, Theobalds, 19 Jul 1623. to deliver one fat buck to the bearer. Signed by the King.

ff. 262r-263v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley, London, 10 Dec 1623. With signature (and signing off) in Conway's hand. With seal and address.

ff. 264r-265v: Letter of Privy Council to Herefordshire Justices of the Peace, Whitehall, 23 Dec 1623. Social policy directives (theft; alehouses; houses of correction; strength of ale and beer).

ff. 266r-267v: Letter of Sir Horace Vere to Sir Robert Harley, London [?], 30 Dec 1623. In Vere's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 268r-269v: Letter of Jeremy [Jeremiah] Whitaker to Sir Robert Harley (at Lady Leveson's house in Blackfriars, London), Oakham, 12 Feb 1624.

ff. 270r-271v: Letter of Sir Horace Vere to Sir Robert Harley, London[?], 25 Jan 1624. In Vere's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 272r-v: Letter of Sir Horace Vere to his nephew Sir Robert Harley, n.d. In Vere's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 273r-274v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley, Windsor, 29 Apr 1624. With signature and postscript by Conway. With address, seal and notes on the back.

ff. 275r-276v: Warrant of Prince Charles to [?Sir Robert Harley as] Chief Ranger of Mocktree Forest, Greenwich, 24 Jun 1624. To deliver a buck to Thomas Harley.

ff. 277r-278v: Letter of Christopher Brooke to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Lincoln's inn, 24 Jul 1624. in Brooke's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 279r-280v: Letter of John Bruen to Sir Robert Harley, Bruen Stapleford, 10 Sep 1624. In Brien's hand and with his signature; with address and seal.

ff. 281r-282v: Letter of sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley and Brilliana, Lady Harley ('my deare Children'), 9 Oct 1624. in Conway's hand. with address and seal.

ff. 283r-284v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to Sir Robert Harley, Royston, 27 Oct 1624. In Conway's hand throughout.

ff. 285r-286v: Letter of the Privy Council to William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton, Whitehall, 31 Oct 1624. Noted as warrant for Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. For levying of Foot. Copy, but with note, signed by Charles [or Edward] Herbert, 'These were delivred to Sir Ro: Harley at Brompton castle' 9 Nov 1624.

ff. 287r-288v: Letter of William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton to the Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire, Ludlow Castle, 8 Nov 1624. Signed by Northampton. With address. Note by Charles [or Edward] Herbert, 'These were delivred to Sir Ro: Harley at Brompton castle' 9 Nov 1624. Encloses above (ff. 285r-286v) with related warrant.

ff. 289r-290v: Examination of Robert Hardinge, a Keeper of Mocktree Forest before Sir Robert Harley, Master of the Game there, 13 Nov 1624. Concerning the killing of a deer there by Richard Buckley, Vicar of Bromfield. Signed by Harley. On f. 289v note of witnesses who can inform further, William Tedstell and John ap Bowen.

ff. 291r-v: Examination of Tedstill of Bromfield, yeoman, taken 15 Nov 1624, taken before and signed by Thomas Harley. Concerning the killing of several deer out of Bringewood and Mocktree by Richard Buckley, Vicar of Bromfield.

f. 292r-v: Examination of Nicholas Vicaridge of Ludlow, carpenter, taken 15 Nov 1624 before (and signed by) Thomas Harley and Sir Robert Harley. Concerning Richard Buckley's deer-stealing.

f. 293r-v: Examination of Elizabeth Tilbery, wife of George Tilbery of Corbets Wood, 'Clangumos', Shropshire, taken 15 Nov 1624 before (and signed by) Thomas Harley and Sir Robert Harley. Deer-stealing.

ff. 294r-v: Examination of John Bowen of Knighton, Radnorshire, taken 15 Nov 1624 before (and signed by) Thomas Harley and Sir Robert Harley. Derr-stealing.

f. 294v: Examination of Francis Jones, miller of Aldous Mill in Stokesay, Shropshire, taken 16 Nov 1624 Thomas Harley and Sir Robert Harley. Deer-stealing.

ff. 295r-296v: Letter of Sir John Scudamore to Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Holme Lacy, 18 Nov 1624. With Scudamore's signature (and probably in the hand throughout). With address and seal.

f. 297r: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to unnamed recipient [?Sir Robert Harley], Southampton, 26 Jul 1625. In Conway's hand.

ff. 298r-299v: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to 'My deare children Mrs Heligenwich [Conway] and Mrs Mary Conway', Southampton, 9 Sep 1625. With signature and postscript in Conway's hand. with address and seal.

ff. 300r-301v: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to his 'very loving Sonne' Sir Robert Harley, Salisbury, 17 Oct 1625. Letter in n Conway's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 302r-303v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to his brother[in-law] Sir Robert Harley, The Rainbow, 2 Nov 1625. With signature (probably in his hand throughout). With address and seal.

ff. 304r-305v: Exchange of letters between Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan Castle (unless otherwise stated) and Sir Walter Pye, (both from) The Mynde, 6 Jan 1626 - 28 Jan 1626. Copies. The letters are Harley to Pye, 6 Jan 1626 (f. 304r); Pye to Harley, 9 Jan 1626 (f. 304r); Harley (from Hereford) to Pye, 12 Jan 1626 (f. 304v); Pye to Harley, 14 Jan 1626 (f. 305r); Harley to Pye, 28 Jan 1626 (f. 305r).

ff. 306r-v: Letter of Herefordshire JPs to the Lord Lieutenant of Wales, Hereford, 11 Jan 1626. Draft in hand of Sir Robert Harley.

ff. 307r-308v: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to Sir Robert Harley and Brilliana Harley, Lady Harley, St martin's Lane, 5 Mar 1626. Conway calls them 'My Deare children' and the address is to 'Sir Robert Harley and his Lady'. With Conway's signature and probably in his hand throughout. With address.

ff. 309r-v: Letter of Brilliana Harley, Lady Harley to Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan Castle, 10 Mar 1626. In her hand and with her signature; with seals and address.

ff. 310r-311v: Letter of Brilliana Harley, Lady Harley to Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan Castle, 21 Apr 1626. In her hand and with her signature; with seal and address.

f. 312r: Letter of Horace Vere, Baron Vere of Tilbury to his nephew Sir Robert Harley, Great St Bartholomew, 6 Aug 1626. In Vere's own hand, with address and seal.

f. 313r: Letter of Horace Vere, Baron Vere of Tilbury to his nephew Sir Robert Harley, London, 25 Aug 1626. In Vere's own hand, with address and seal.

ff. 314r-315v: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to Sir Robert Harley ('my good Sonne'), St Martin's Lane, 31 Aug 1626. With signature; address and seal.

ff. 316r-317v: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to Sir Robert Harley and Brilliana, Lady Harley ('my deare Children'), Egham, 5 Dec 1626. With Conway's signature; address ('To my loving sonne and daughter Sir Robert Harley and his Lady').

ff. 318r-319v: Letter of Sir Henry Marten to Sir Robert Harley, Doctors' Commons, 11 Apr 1627. With signature; address and seal.

ff. 320r-321v: Letter of John Hammonds to Sir Robert Harley (at his house in Aldermanbury, London), Bewdley, 25 Apr 1627. In Hammonds's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 322r-323v: Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Killultagh to Sir Robert Harley and Edward Read, Southwick, near Portsmouth, 13 Jun 1627. With Killultagh's signature. Addressed to Harley ('my verie loving Sonne' and Read ('my verie loving Cousen').

ff. 324r-325v: Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Killultagh to Sir Robert Harley, 16 Jun 1627. In Conway's hand. He opens the letter to 'My dearly beloved Sonne', and writes of Lady Brilliana as 'beloved Brill'.

ff. 326r-327v: Letter of Sir Edward Conway to his brother[-in-law] Sir Robert Harley, the Court, 16 Jun 1627. In Conway's hand, with address and seal.

ff. 328r-335v: Catalogue of books [?of Sir Robert Harley], 12 Jul 1627.

ff. 336r-337v: letter of Thomas Harley to his son Sir Robert Harley, Brampton Bryan Castle, 6 Nov 1627 [or 1629]. With Thomas Harley's signature. With address and seal.

ff. 338r-339v: Letter of Thomas Taylor to Sir Robert Harley (at his father's house), Aldermanbury, 29 Dec 1627. In taylor's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 340r-341v: Letter of William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton to Sir Robert Harley, Ludlow, 6 Jan 1628. In Northampton's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 342r-343v; Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway to his son[in-law] Sir Robert Harley, 9 a.m., 2 Feb 1628. With signature. With address and seal. Conway signs as 'your loveing father frend and Servant'.

f. 344r: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley (at his house in Aldermanbury, London), 16 Feb 1628. in Pierson's hand. With address and seal. Pierson's address calls Harley, his muche honowred good Patrone'.

ff. 345r-346v: Matter of petitions to be submitted at Days of Humiliation, 30 Mar 1627 and 29 Feb 1628. In the hand of Sir Robert Harley. The heading places at Alderman Berry's.

f. 347r: Letter of Horace Vere, Baron Vere of Tilbury to Sir Robert Harley, The Hague, 1/11 Jul 1628. In Vere's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 348r-349v: Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway to his son[-in-law] Sir Robert Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), Whitton, 25 Sep 1628. With Conway's signature. With address and seal.

ff. 350r-351v: Letter of Sir Herbert Croft to John Harley, esquire, at the house of Nathaniel Southwell, Minister of the English College in Rome, Venice, 30 Sep 1628. With address in Italian.

ff. 352r-353v: Prophecies: a rhymed prophecy relating to the union of England and Scotland, and a further prophecy foretelling terrible events in the course of the year, beginning early in May, [1629].

ff. 354r-v: Letter of Thomas Pierson to sir Robert Harley (at his house in Aldermanbury), Brampton Bryan, 14 Jan 1629. In Pierson's hand; with address and seal.

ff. 355r-356v: Letter of Sir Thomas Wroth to Sir Robert Harley, London, 28 Mar 1629. In Wroth's hand. With address and fragments of seals.

ff. 357r-358v: Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway to his son[-in-law] Sir Robert Harley, 21 Apr 1629. Letter in Conway's hand. With address and seal.

ff, 359r-360v: Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway to his son[-in-law] Sir Robert Harley, Greenwich, 9 Jun 1629. With Conway's signature (as 'your loveing father and tru frend'). With address and seal.

ff. 361r-362v: Letter of Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway to Sir Robert Harley and Brilliana, Lady Harley, St Martin's Lane, 28 Jul 1629. With address ('To my Dear Children' sir Robert Harley and his Lady, Brilliana Harley) and fragment of seal. Conway opens the letter 'My dear children'.

f. 363r: Letter of Thomas Pierson to Sir Robert Harley (in Aldermanbury, London), Brampton Bryan, 17 Oct 1629. In Pierson's hand. With address and seal.

f. 364r: Account of the murder of John Rogers of Nether Lye, 2 Nov 1629.

ff. 365r-366v: Letter of Edward Conway. 1st Viscount Conway to Sir Robert Harley and Brilliana Harley, Lady Harley, St Martin's Lane, 26 Dec 1629. With Conway's signature. With address and seal. Conway calls the two 'my children deere'.

f. 367r-368v: Letter of Sir Robert Harley to his father Thomas Harley (at Brampton Bryan Castle), London, 22 Feb 1630. In Sir Robert's hand. With address and seal.

ff. 369r-370v: Letter of Edward Conway, Baron Conway to his brother[-in-law] Sir Robert Harley, Lisnagarvey, 28 Feb 1630. Signed by Conway. With address and seal. Conway addresses Harley as 'Noble brother'. Verso here are the titles of certain books (or parts of the first book?) jotted down: a Hebrew bible in quarto, printed in 3 volumes in Paris by Robert [?] Stephen [?], 'The prophets printed 1539', and 'Genesis to the Kings 1539' and 'The psalmes 1540'.

ff. 371r-373v: Letter of the Privy Council to the Tanners of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Whitehall, 24 Mar 1630 (ff. 371r-v) with attached note (f. 372r-373v).