Harley MS 1579

Composite volume of collections mainly on history, diplomacy and politics, from the late 16th century to the 1670s. Chiefly English. In more than one hand, written on different sized folios. Some entries starting from the other end of the volume relate to Sir Andrew Henley (1622-1675), 1st baronet, keeper of Frimley Walk, Windsor Forest.

Contents:

ff. 1-2: Letter of protestation from John Valkenbourg, Director-General of the North Coast of Africa, and the Isles of Ste. Thome, on behalf of the States General and their West-India Company, to Francis Selvin, Agent for the Royal English Company trading to the Coast of Africa. 1663. Complaining of English encroachments and threatening them with war unless they promptly withdraw.

ff. 3-38: Collection of historical extracts or brief essays in a single hand, as follows:

• Conditions of a lease to be granted by Anthony Henley of Bramshill, Southampton (former owner of the book) (f. 3).
• ‘Certaine Observations, that are not worthy of the Title of History, that hapened to England since the yeare of our Lord 1558. And before’ (ff. 3v-6v).
• ‘Some particulars of the raigne of Queen Elizabeth’ (ff. 6v-16v).
• ‘The favors England have done Holland and the obligation they have to this Crowne’ (ff. 16v-20r).
• ‘The State of Holland from the beginning; the Continuance, and what is like to prove in the end’ (ff. 20r-21r).
• ‘Collections gathered out of a Booke writte by Sr Roger Williams and printed 1618’ (ff. 21r-27v).
• ‘Whether Holland doe Injury to theire Prince: Yea, or Noe’ (ff. 28r-31v).
• ‘The Desperatnes Holl[and] was put unto’ (ff. 31v-36v).
• ‘The difference of tyme betwixt the beginning of Queene Elizabeth’s Raigne and the latter end’ (ff. 36v-38v).

f. 39: Proposal of Petrus Peckius the Younger (1562-1625) to the States General of the Netherlands that they should recognise the Arch-Duke as their nominal head, as part of a renewal of the Twelve Years' Truce, 23 March 1621.

ff. 40-41: The States General’s refusal, 25 March 1621.

f. 41: ‘The Articles of Agreement concluded between the Duke …. and the States of the Low Countries, after the Accident at Andwarp’.

ff. 42-47r: The Prince of Orange’s advice on the affairs of the estate of the Low Countries.

ff. 47r-49r: ‘The Advice of an Italian, exhibited to the Estate of Andwerpe, for the Redresse of the Lowe-Countrie’.

ff. 50-52r: Articles of Peace between the Kings of England and Spain, 1604.

ff. 52v-54v: ‘The Instruccions of those things which the Prince of Condye desireth for to be declared unto the Kings Majestie by Monsr. De Villeseason his Secretary; whom he sent presently to the Courte, after his comming to La Fere in Picardie, a town of the autient Inheritance of Vandome, thereby appertaining to the King of Navarre. 13 Dec. 1579’.

f. 55: The Prince of Condé’s letter to the King after his coming to La Fere.

ff. 56-58: Letter from Sir William Bowsell to Sir Edward Barret, Ambassador to the French King. 29 May 1625.

ff. 59-60: Instructions for Sir John Bennett, as Ambassador to the Arch-Duke Albert of Austria.

ff. 61-62r: Letter from Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury, to Sir George Carew. May 1609. Concerning a proclamation against fishing by strangers.

ff. 62v-64r: Letter from Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury, to Sir George Carew, 12 November 1607. Concerning Tyrone’s passage through France, and the Treaty in the Low Countries.

ff. 65-67: Instructions for Edward, Earl of Hertford, as Ambassador to the Archduke Albert and Isabella of Austria.

f. 68: Letter from Lord North to the Lords of the Council, 11 December 1574. Concerning the French Ambassadors untrue report that he did not solicit the causes of the English merchants with the King of France.

ff. 69-74r: ‘Discourse for Germany’.

ff. 74v-76v: Instructions to Patrick, Master of Gray, Commendator of Dunfermline, and to Sir Robert Melvill of Murdocarvine, Deputy Treasurer, Ambassadors to the Queen of England. 17 December 1586.

ff. 77-78: Letter from Sir Thomas Roe to Sir Edward Barrett, English Ambassador at Paris. From Halchis, near Constantinople, 19 September 1625.

ff. 79-80r: Argument on the advantages of East India trade to Britain’s wealth. Headed: ‘ Reasons to prove that it is not the East India trade which doth consume the Gold Silver Coyne or other treasure of this kingdome but rather that it is an excellent meanes greatly to increase the same.’

f. 80v: Diatribe de Eloquentia Veterum.

ff. 81-82r: Headed ‘Certaine Cases of conscience, in reference to the late Protestation; desire to be resolved, concerninge those Preparations of Warre, by the King on the one side, and the Two Houses of parliaments on th’other side’.

ff. 83-85: Report on the arrangement of official papers at Whitehall, headed, ‘The generall heads of things in the Office of his Majesties Papers & Records for business of State and Counsell, established att Whitehall. Sr Tho: Wilson office’. Prepared for the service of the Lord Barrett.

ff. 86-96r: Information on various countries, headed: ‘A breefe Instruction for a Traviler; Collected out of Sundry Authors’.

f. 96v: Information of Grimbald Pauncefote, to his Majesties Commissioners for the Business of Recusants.

ff. 97-98r: Instructions of King Charles I for his Commissioners for sale and disposal of his lands; by virtue of his Commission dated 23 October, ann. 2 Car. 1.

ff. 98v-100r: The King’s Commission on recusants’ lands, headed ‘A Coppie of the Commission touching Recusants for demysing their Lands’. Dated November 1628.

ff. 100v-101r: The Instructions for the Commission for Recusants.

ff. 101v-102v: The last will (nuncupative) of Emanuel Scrope, Earl of Sunderland. 26 May 1630.

ff. 103-104: Notes on the Action between Edward Barrett Esq. Demandant & John Marquis of Winton, with Henry Smyth Gent. Tenants, regarding lands in Wolverton and Kingsclere, Hampshire. 1576.

f. 105: Notes from Sir Henry Neville’s dispatches. 41. Eliz. I.

f. 106r: Answer of a peer on a quarrel with the Duke of Norfolk, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

f. 106v: Declaration of Henry Rich, Earl of Holland, and Sir Dudley Carleton, Extraordinary Ambassadors to France, on the demolition of Fort Louis, La Rochelle. Dated 11 Fevr. 1606 [i.e. 1626, actual date of the embassy]. French.

f. 107r: Letter of the Ambassadors to the gentlemen of La Rochelle. 11 February 1626. French

f. 107v: ‘Lettre de La Vigueur, a son Camorade La Ruyne’. French.

ff. 108-113: Manuscript copy of Syllogismus Orbis Terrarum Practicus by Comenius, with publication details. Header: ‘Syllogismus Orbis Terrarum Practicus; cujus Propositionem majorem posuere Principes Europaei, Pace inter se sancita Monasterij Osnabrugii anno 1648. Stabilita vero Noribergae anno 1650. Minorem autem posuit Innocentius X Papa Romanus anno 1651, et continuando fIrmavit successor ejus Alexander VII. Anno 1655, et sequentibus. Hamburgi apud Gervasium Joannidis, 1665’.

ff. 114r-v: The Earl of Bristol’s first speech in the House of Lords, on the Roman Catholics’ Petition.

ff. 114v-120r: Earl of Bristol’s speech on the oaths of supremacy and allegiance.

ff. 121-122: Articles of Peace agreed between the King of Great Britain and the States of Holland, 1667.

ff. 123v-124r: List of ships under the Admiral, with their rates, commanders, men, and guns, in the several squadrons and divisions. 14 May 1666.

ff. 125v-127v: Four letters from Sir Henry Wotton, Venice, to Sir Edward Barret, 1616.

ff. 128-130r: Petition of Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, to the Lords in Parliament, 1667.

ff. 130v-131v: Order of the funeral of Philip IV, King of Spain, 1665.

ff. 132-133: List of the debts of Sir George Trenchard, confessed in his sickness, 25 June 1610, and the efforts to discharge them.

f. 134: Defence of the Six Clerks in Chancery against the charge of extortion laid against them on behalf of the King. Reign of Charles I.

f. 135: Part of the speech of the Earl of Bristol to the House of Commons about the message he was said to have carried from Sir Richard Temple to King Charles II.

f. 136: Parody of a speech of King Charles II to Parliament requesting money. Begins ‘My Lords & Gentlemen, I told you last meeting the Winter was the fittest time Businesse And truly I thought soe til my Lord Tresurer assured me that the Spring is the fittest time for Salletts & Subsidyes’ [etc.].

ff. 137-141: Letter from James Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Privy Council here, on the case of the Marquis of Antrim, 31 July 1663. Sent as a reply to the King’s letter to Sir Henry Bennett.

ff. 142-143: Letter from King Charles II to the Lord Lieutenant and Council of Ireland, in the behalf of the Marquis of Antrim whom he found innocent of any malice or rebellious purpose against the Crown, etc. 10 July 1663. Headed: ‘Earl of Antrim an Innocent Papiest’.

f. 144r: Account of the Bareth family.

f. 144v: Petition of the relations of Charles Talbot, Earl (now Duke) of Shrewsbury, to the House of Lords, on the shameless cohabitation of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, with Anna-Maria Countess of Shrewsbury, the relict of the said Earl’s father.

f. 145: Part of a speech by the Earl of Bristol in Parliament, against the demands of the Scots. 26 April 1641.

f. 146r: Letter of the Lords of the Privy Council to the Justices of the Peace in Somerset, concerning problems and complaints arising from the excessive number of maltsters. 31 March 1635.

ff. 147-149: Project for fitting out a royal fleet to consist of five squadrons; with the charge for it. During the reign of Charles II.

f. 150: Note of all ships bound for Turkey, their burdens, and captains’ names.

f. 151: Measure of the King’s race parks at Tutbury.

ff. 152-154: Minutes of the Privy Council, on the petition of the tenants of Barwick, 16 April 1630.

ff. 155-156: Abstract of a survey of the manor and chase of Enfield, taken by the King’s General Surveyor, 8 July 1572.

f. 157: Petition of the tenants of the Demeasne-Lands of the Manor of Berwick in Elmett, to the Lords of the Privy Council.

ff. 158-160: Answer to the petition by Lord Newburgh, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

f. 161: Copy of a letter from King Louis XIV of France to the King of Spain, on the death of Cardinal Mazarin. 9 March 1661. French. Pasted into volume.

f. 162: Letter (original) of W.L., a laywer, advising him how to make his tenant uneasy with the aim of ejecting him. Pasted into volume.

f. 163: Header: ‘Note of all such Moneys as have bin payd unto me Sir Edward Barrett Kt. for the Affairs of the King of Bohemia’. 1620.

f. 164: Sir Edward Barrett’s notes on being sworn Privy Councillor, 20 July 1628, to the following 20 August. With details of the ceremony used in administering the oaths to Richard, Lord Weston, as Lord High Treasurer of England, and to himself as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Under-Treasurer.

ff. 165-166: Political testament of Cardinal Richelieu. Latin.

ff. 167-177r: Collection in a single hand:

• State of the matter relating to William Fielding, Earl of Denbigh, as Master of the Royal Wardrobe, and the accounts of his office, 1640 (f. 168).
• Warrant of King Charles I for a grant of the estate of Richard Sandford to Carolina Wyndham, daughter of Sir Edmund Wyndham, Knight-Marshall of the Household. 4th June 1670 (ff. 168v-169v).
• 'An abstract & discovery of certaine unlawfull & deceitfull Practises & Abuses, touching chiefly certaine Officers, that have to do in the Allowances, receiving, chargeing, & dischargeing of the King’s Majesties Debts & Revenues, taken in Allowance upon their accompts and otherwise' (ff. 168v-169v).
• Oration by Henry Gerrard, of Wadham College, terrae filius, at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, 10 July 1669. Title ‘An Omnis Sensus sit Tactus’. Latin (ff. 170-172).
• Pleading before the House of Lords on behalf of the Commons, upon a trespass in assaulting Mr Skinner and seizing his goods (ff. 173v-175v).
• Speech of John Lucas in the House of Lords for reducing taxes and supply to King Charles II, shortly before his death (ff. 176v-177r).
• On verso of last item, in a different hand, three humorous letters, the first two bombastic, the third from Lady Savage to her son Harry, 21 Feb 1624, chiding him for losing first his ruff and then his shirt (f. 177v).

ff. 178-179: Minutes of the proceedings of the House of Commons 12-16 January 1673.

ff. 180-181: Speech of the Earl of Bristol to the House of Commons about the message he was said to have carried from Sir Richard Temple to King Charles II (part of the speech is elsewhere in the volume at f. 135). Folded.

f. 182: State of the cash in a government office. 1657.

ff. 184-185: Manner of installation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Headed ‘The Manner & Forme of Swearinge and placinge of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and namely Sr. Fulke Grevell; who was Chauncellor when as the Earl of Suffolk was Lo[rd] Treas[urer]’.

The following folios are written starting from the other end of the volume, but are now numbered from left to right (ff. 186-216). Some of them relate to Sir Andrew Henley (1622-1675), 1st baronet, keeper of Frimley Walk, Windsor Forest.

ff. 186r: Letter of Prince Rupert to James Zouche, High Sheriff of Surrey, on behalf of Sir Andrew Henley, to whom the King had granted custody of Frimley Walke, Windsor Forest. 17 June 1670. Sir Andrew Henley, 1st baronet (1622–75)

f. 186v: Warrant of the Commissioners of the Treasury for payment of £200 to Mrs Ann Wyndham. 25 May 1670.

ff. 187v-188r: Petition of the Long Parliament desiring King Charles I to quit his army and join them.

ff. 189v-190r: A breviate of the petition to the King concerning tenures in socage.

ff. 191v-193r: Two epistolary poems written between Nathaniel Wanley, father of Humfrey Wanley, and Dr John Wilde. Incorrectly transcribed according to Humfrey Wanley.

f. 194: Survey of Ashdown Forest, taken 30 April 1632, by John Hatton, the King’s Surveyor for the Duchy of Lancaster.

ff. 195-203: Speech of Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer, to both Houses of Parliament in the painted chamber, 1609.

ff. 204r-213: Lord Conway’s relation of the passages in the late Northern Expedition, upon the Scots invading England. Reign of Charles I.

ff. 214-215: Receipts and accounts of Andrew Henley, for deliveries and game supplies, 1656.

f. 216r: Record of housekeeping payments to Mrs Ramsey, January 1656.