Harley MS 1220

Composite volume of political tracts in several hands.

ff. 1-6: Concerning the decay of rents, and how to improve them. Headed ‘Decay of Rents’.

ff. 7-9: Proposals for the better ordering the poor of an unidentified parish.

ff. 10-20: Proposals for settling the peace of England, both in Church and State, under one head, not from the royal family. Headed: ‘A Ready Way, as is conceaved, to settle the Peace of this Commonwealth’.

ff. 21-52: On the fishing trade. Title: ‘A Discoverie of the Hollanders Trade of Fishing, and their circumventing us therein: with the meanes how to make profitt thereby. By which, they have gathered, and still doe gather soe great a Benefitt, together with Honnour and Security, that will redound to his Majestie, and all sorts of Subjects within these 3 Kingdomes by it.’

ff. 53-62: Sir Henry Wotton (attributed), Proposal of a way to prevent the growth of Catholicism in England. First published as The State of Christendom, London, 1657. Author refers to himself on f. 61 as the author of Anti-Papal Society.

ff. 63-81: Tom Tell-Troth. Anonymous satire addressed to the King. Title (f. 63v): ‘Tom Tell-Troth: or a free discourse toucheinge the murmurs of the times; directed to his Majestie by way of an humble Advertisement A.D. 1621’.

ff. 82-120: On the Lordships Marchers in Wales. Title (f. 83): ‘A Treatise of Lordshipps Marchers in Wales. Shewing how, why and when they were suppressed: and how they may best be knowen and tryed, at this day from other Lordshipps that were not Lordships Marchers’.

ff. 121-123: Translation of the Letters Patent of Charles II, granting to Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby, Lord High Treasurer, several fee farm rents in Wales, to the yearly value of £727 18s 4 ½ d, 14 December, anno regni 26.

ff. 124-127: Translation of the Letters Patent of Charles II, granting to Sir Robert Holmes, several fee farm rents in Wales to the yearly value of £609 1s 10 ½ d, 8 July anno regni 26.

ff. 128-129: Translation of the Letters Patent of Charles II, granting to William Chiffinch the Lordship of Driffincloyd cum Ruthin vill. In Com. Denbigh, of the annual value of £243 8s 2 ½ d, 10 August anno regni 28.

ff. 130-133: A Demise made by King James II to John Lord Belassyse, Sydney Lord Godolphin, Henry Lord Roper, Sir John Ernle Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Stephen Fox, Commissioners for executing the Office of Treasurer of his Exchequer, his Fines upon Alienations in the Chancery for seven years, at the yearly rent of £1546 12s 00d. Dated 21 March, anno regni 3 (i.e. 1686/7).

ff. 134-248: Sir John Harrington, Supply or Addition to the catalogue of Bishops to the year 1608. In two professional hands, with a later title page. ff. 169r-248v in an early 17th century secretary hand; ff. 134r-68v in a later professional secretary hand, c.1620s, probably replacing a lost portion of the earlier copy; with a title-page (f. 134r), the inscription ‘by Sr John Harrington written for the service of Prince Henry and Printed in smal octavo 16’ added in a later hand (CELM HrJ 330). First published, as A Briefe View of the State of the Church of England, edited by John Chetwind (London, 1653). This MS discussed and some previously unpublished portions of the text printed from it in R. H. Miller’s edition of 1979.