Harley MS 4931

Composite volume of prose and verse, state papers (chiefly 1640-1641), and parliamentary reports. In various hands. With an alphabetical index in a contemporary hand prefixed (ff. 1-6).

Contents:

f. 1: Miscellaneous epigrams from Latin authors and other sources.

ff. 2-7r: Index to the volume.

ff. 7v-10: Epigrams, verse and short compositions. Includes John Marston, chronogram on the name of George Buckingham (f. 9r) and John Hoskyns, ‘The Censure of a Parliament Fart’ (f. 10r). Former pages numbers: [unnumbered], 1-5.

f. 11: blank folio.

f. 12: ‘Pope Gregory the 15th having writt to the Prince of Wales a letter dated Apr. 20, 1623, the w^ch the Nuncio of His Holiness in Spaine presented to him, being accompanied by the Italian Lords, that y^t w^th the Court. And the Prince of Wales having recovered the letter, sent this following by mistake which was shortly after published’. Original page numbering: 11.

f. 13r: ‘A Prophecy extant in the Library of Trinity College in Cambridge’. Original page numbering: 13.

f. 13v: Mr. William’s Prophecy written in 1616. Original page numbering: 14.

f. 14: Account of a book entitled Preparation to the Crosse found in a fish, by Joseph Mede, of Christ’s College Cambridge. Original page numbering: 15.

f. 15: ‘Lydford Journey’, verses by William Browne of Tavistock. Endorsed ‘Lydford Law. By Mr Browne follower of the Earle of Pembrooke’. c1640s. CELM: BrW 65. Original page numbering: 17.

f. 16r: Verses by George Herbert (1593–1633), ‘In Honorem Illustr. D.D. Verulamij, Vici-comitis S[anc]ti Albani, Magni Sigilli Custodis post editam ab eo Instaurationem Magnam’ (Begins: ‘Qvis iste tandem? non enim vultu ambulat’). CELM HrG 312. Original page numbering: 19.

ff. 16v-17r: ‘Smectymnuus, or the Club-Divines’ verses attributed in another hand to Mr G Creswell (begins ‘Smectymnuus? The Goblin makes me start’). CELM ClJ 101 attributes this to John Cleveland (1613-1658). Original page numbering: 20-21.

f. 17v: ‘Smectymnuus. Bellua multorum capitum, by Cleveland’. Original page numbering: 22.

ff. 18-19: Convivium philosophicum tentum in clauso termini Michaelis in Crastino Sti. Aegidii in Campis; auctore Rodulpho Colfabio Aeneanasensi’. Satirical poem in Latin and English parallel stanzas. The Latin stanzas are signed ‘Joh. Hoskins’, the English stanzas are signed ‘Joh. Reinoles’. CELM: HoJ 263. Original page numbering: 23-25.

f. 20r: ‘A lamentation upon the Conflagration of the Muses Habitation, or the description of the burning of a schoole in Yorkshire’. Verses later published in Wit and Drollery (London, 1661), ascribed to ‘T. R.’. , Thomas Randolph (1605-1635). CELM: RnT 553. Original page numbering: 27.

f. 20v: ‘Of Bp Laud’s Election to be Chancellor of Oxford, Apr. 12. 1630’. Extract from a letter from Joseph Mede of Christs College, Cambridge, to the Bishop of Armagh. At foot: 'Ex epistola Josephi Mede C. Xti Cantabrig. sociii, missa ad Archiepisci. Armach, data Maij 4to an. 1630'. Original page numbering: 28.

f. 21: ‘In Eversionem Exercitus Caesariani, et civitatis Magdenburgensis’. Poem. Original page numbering: 29.

ff. 22-23: ‘Articles of the Earl of Bristoll wherby he chargeth the Duke of Buck[ingham], beareing date the first day of May 1626’. Original page numbering: 31.

ff. 24-26: ‘An offertory dialoguewise at the Shrine of the most accomplished Lady the Lady A. R.’ Inscribed in a later hand: ‘Verses made by Captaine Benlowes on the death of the Lady Anne Rich, the Lord Rich of Leer his lady’. Dated 1637. Original page numbering: 35-40.

f. 27: A printed ballad, entitled, O yes, O yes, I do cry, the Bishop’s bridles will you buy. At foot: ‘Composed by TOM (A.S.) MILL and mee. And Printed new at Pomadie’. Original page numbering: 43.

f. 28: ‘The Designe’. This seems to be the argument of a kind of Masque, & the following note is added in a later hand. ’This was acted in Germany before the Earl of Arundel, when he went to Vienna on behalf of the Paulgrave’. Dated ‘An. 1638’. Original page numbering: 45-46.

ff. 29-30: ‘Scottish Newes 1617’. Original page numbering: 47-50.

ff. 31r-32v: ‘Advices and Motives for the Noblemen, Knights that shall imploy ymselves in the Country in soliciting Catholiques for a Contribution to his Ma[jes]ty upon occasion of his pr[ese]nt Northern Journey. Anno 1638, 1639’.

ff. 32v-33r: ‘The Queenes Letter. To our Trusty and well-beloved Councellor Sir John Winton, Knight, our Principall Secretary and M[aste]r of Requests.’

ff. 33r: ‘A Coppy of the Letter sent from the superiours touching the Contribution money to be collected of Catholiques, & towards his M[ajesty’s] Northerne Journey’. Dated London, April 4, 1638.

f. 34r: ‘The King’s Oath at his Coronation of Scotland’. Original page numbering: 57-58.

ff. 35-36: Address to the King, falsely attributed to ‘The Duke of Leonax’. Annotated in a later hand: ‘Tis a fained thing made and scattered abroad, An. 1639, when the K. first intended war ag[ain]st Scotland’. Original page numbering: 59-61.

f. 37: ‘Marquis Huntley’s oath to the Covenanters’. Original page numbering: 63-64.

f. 38: ‘A military Oath. An[no] 1639. Aug.’ At the bottom, in another hand, ‘This oath was putt upon all the Nobles of England who were in the North (anno 1639) attending the King, when he went against the Scotts, and my Lord Say & my Lord Brookes only refused this Oath at first, whose example drew on others.’ Original page numbering: 65-66.

ff. 39-40: Song. A Godly new Song to the tune of George Goreing and Jack Jennett. In the margin, ‘On the occasion of the Parliam[en]t in 1640, Apr. Original page numbering: 67-69.

f. 41: The Petition of the Freeholders of Essex to the House of Commons. Original page numbering: 71.

f. 42: The Petition of the Freeholders of Hertfordshire. 1639. Original page numbering: 73.

ff. 43-44: ‘Thus beginns the Act of the Parliam[en]t in Ireland, which was in March 1639, 1640. For the grant of foure intire subsidies on the Temporalty. The beginning contains Commenda[ti]ons of the Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.’ Original page numbering: 75-77.

f. 45: ‘A declaration of the Commons House of Parliament in Ireland’. Original page numbering: 83.

f. 46: ‘The Parliament Pompe. Anno Dom. 1640. Apr. 13.’ Original page numbering: 85.

ff. 47-49: Parliamentary Proceedings, Apr. 13, 1640. Proceedings in the upper and lower houses, 13 April-15 May 1640. Original page numbering: 87-91.

ff. 50-51: ‘The King’s Speech this day in Parliam[en]t May 15. 1640.’ For dissolving the Parliament. Original page numbering: 97-100.

ff. 52-55: ‘Quaeres propounded by sundry of the Clergy of the Diocesse of London & parts adjacent touching the oath enjoyned by the last Synode Can. 6. Wherein they unfainedly desire Satisfaction that so they may more heartily & willingly take the said Oath when authority shall tender it to them, as by that Canon it is injoyned.’ With answers ‘supposed to be by Dr. Brownrigge.’ Original page numbering: 101-107.

ff. 56-57: Grounds of Exceptions against the Oath required in the 6^th Canon established in the Synod 1640. Northamptonshire.’ Original page numbering: 109-111.

f. 58: ‘Other Queries about the same Oath’. In another hand. – ‘Supposed to be from the Kentish Ministers’. Original page numbering: 113.

f. 59: ‘Exceptions against the new Oath in ye Canons from Devonshire.’ Original page numbering: 115.

f. 60: ‘Queries concerning this new Oath, from Norfolke.’ Original page numbering: 117.

ff. 61-62r: ‘A collection of some of the things established in our Church government’. In another hand – ‘Supposed to be by Mr. S. M. of Essex’. Original page numbering: 119.

f. 62v: ‘Concerning o[u]r Armies ag[ain]st the Scots in the yeare 1640.’At the bottom, ‘Haec ex Manuscripto Domini Connaway quod ex ipsius Musaeo petitum fuit’. Original page numbering: 122.

f. 63: ‘Verses made upon the Visitation of Dr. Duck the Chancellor London Diocesse, for the Bp. Of London, Anno 1640. Aug. Sept. Called the Duck’s Curr-anto’. Original page numbering: 123.

f. 64: The Petition of the Gentry of York to the King, Jul. 28, 1640. Original page numbering: 125.

f. 65: The Last Words of John Haskins. Dated 1 June 1640. Endorsed: ‘John Haskins his Letter found in St. Mary Overies Jun. 7 1640’. Original page numbering: 127.

f. 66: Petition of the Grand Jury of Berks to the King, Jul. 11, 1640. Original page numbering: 129.

f. 67: ‘The Petition of the Lords, subscribed by 10 of them, & presented to the King at York, Sept. 3, 1640.’ Original page numbering: 131.

f. 68: ‘His Majesty’s Speech to the Lords Sept. 24, 1640, at the meeting of the Peers at York.’ Original page numbering: 135.

f. 69: ‘Remembrances for the L[or]ds Commissioners to put them in mind of such things as have falne into Debate, about the Demands of the Scotts, for maintenance of the Army during the Treaty.’ Nov. 13, 1640. Original page numbering: 137-138.

ff. 70-71: ‘The forme of Government in the Kirke of Scotland’. Original page numbering: 139-142.

f. 72: ‘Some things in the wor[shi]p of God in Scotland which will be amended in this begunne Reformation. Jan. 1640.’ Original page numbering: 143.

ff. 73-74: The Middlesex petition, Oct. 1640. Original page numbering: 147-154.

f. 75: The King’s Speech. Nov. 3, 1640. Original page numbering: 155.

ff. 76-77: ‘Proceedings in the Par[iamen]t of November 3, 1640’. Proceedings of the upper and lower houses, 3-28 November 1640. Original page numbering: 157-160.

ff. 78-79: The Scottish charge upon the Earle of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Nov 18 1640. Original page numbering: 161-164. ff. 80-81: A manuscript ballad endorsed ‘Gramercy good Scott’, which is the refrain. Begins: ‘Ye wily Projectours why hang ye your head?’ Dated Novemb. 1640. Original page numbering: 165-168.

ff. 82-83: The accusation of John Lord Finch, Baron of Foreditch, Lord Keeper of the Greate Seale of England, at the Commons in this Parliam[en]t assembled, charging him with High Treason & other misdemeanours. Original page numbering: 169-172.

ff. 84-86: Poem entitled ‘The universall Scourge of the Times’. Feb. 1640. Original page numbering: 173-178.

ff. 87-89: Petition of London to the Parliament. Original page numbering: 179-184.

f. 90: The Petition of Mr. Erbury & the Principality of Wales to the House of Commons. Dec. 1640. Original page numbering: 185.

f. 91: Petition of some Ministers of Peterborough Diocese. Nov 1640. Original page numbering: 189.

ff. 92-93: Sir Benjamin Rydier’s Speech in the House of Commons. Nov. 7, 1640. CELM: RuB 152. Original page numbering: 191-194.

f. 94: Sir Edward Deerings 1st Speech, Nov. 1, 1640. Original page numbering: 197-198.

f. 95: Sir Edward Deering’s 2nd speech, Nov. 23, 1640. Original page numbering: 199-200.

ff. 96-97: Sir Edward Deering’s 3rd speech, Dec. 4, 1640. Original page numbering: 205-208.

ff. 98-99: Lord Falkland’s Speech in the House of Commons, Dec. 7, 1640. Original page numbering: 209-212.

ff. 100-101: Report of the Committee for Information. Dec. 19, 1640. Endorsed ‘The Order of the House about searching into the want of Preaching in the Kingdom’. Original page numbering: 213-216.

f. 102: Mr. Bagshaw’s second speech in the House of Commons. Original page numbering: 217-218.

f. 103: House of Commons speech of Sir Benjamin Rudyard, 7-9 February 1640/1. ‘A Speech of Sr. Benjamin Rudyer in the House of Comm[mons], concerning Bishopps. Feb. 9, 1640.’. Speech beginning ‘I doe verily beleeue that there are manie of the Clergie in one Church who doe thinke...’. CELM: RuB 194. Original page numbering: 219-220.

f. 104: ‘Verses upon the Archb[isho]p Jan. 1640.’ Original page numbering: 221.

f. 105: The order of the Lords House for Divine service. Jan. 16, 1640. Original page numbering: 223-224.

ff. 106-107: The King’s Speech, Jan. 23, 1640. Original page numbering: 225-228.

ff. 108-109r: Mr. Pym’s Speech on presenting the Impeachment against the Earl of Strafford. Original page numbering: 229-231.

f. 109v: The King’s Speech, Feb. 3, 1640. Original page numbering: 232

f. 110: The Answer of the Commissioners, Feb. 5 1640. Original page numbering: 233.

f. 111: Message from the Queen to the House of Commons, Feb. 6, 1640. Original page numbering: 235.

ff. 112-115r: Lord Falkland’s Speech in the H. of Commons, Feb. 9 1640, concerning Bishops. Original page numbering: 237-243.

f. 115v: The King’s Speech on passing the Triennial Bill, Feb. 16, 1640. Original page numbering: 244.

f. 116: A printed paper, From the Commissioners of Scotland, 24 Feb 1640. Original page numbering: 246-247.

f. 117: A Scottish Paper, March 1, 1640. In a later hand. ‘This paper is the Explanation of the printed paper, 24 Feb.1640’, i.e. the preceding item. Original page numbering: 249.

ff. 118-119: Petition of the County of Chester. March 1640. Original page numbering: 251-253.

f. 120: Act of Attainder against Lord Strafford. Original page numbering:255-256.

ff. 121-122: Petition of 10,000 Citizens of London, for redress of Grievances, delivered on April 1, 1641. Original page numbering: 257-259.

f. 123: The King’s Speech on disarming the Papists, &c. April 28, 1641. Original page numbering: 261.

f. 124: The King’s Speech in favour of Lord Strafford. May 1, 1641. Original page numbering: 263.

f. 125: ‘The Coppy of the Paper that came out of Sir Harry Vane’s black velvett cabinett. This counsel was given on May 6, 1640, on the day the Parliam[en]t broke up’. Original page numbering: 265.

f. 126: ‘A Catalogue of the Earl of Strafford’s Friends which voted against the Bill of Attainder in the House of Commons, Apr. 22, 1641’. In the Margin is written, ‘These men were posted up in the Yard to the Parliam[en]t Stairs, all their names stood there a whole day, May 3, when there were so many thousands, with this title, these are the Betrayers of their Country’. Original page numbering: 267.

f. 127: ‘The names of such as ranne away upon the discovery of the Plott by the Popish Side in the beginning of May, 1641. Original page numbering: 269.

f. 128: ‘The Lord Maior’s Order (commanded by the H. of Commons to the severall wards of ye City for the sanctifying of the L[ord’s] day. April 14, 1641)’. Original page numbering: 271.

f. 129: Propositions of the Lords in Strafford’s trial. Original page numbering: 273.

ff. 130-131: The Preamble to the Protestation, & the Protestation itself. Dated 3 May 1641. Original page numbering: 277-279.

f. 132: Die Mercurii: 5o Maii. 1641. It is this day ordered by House of Commons [etc.] (London: Robert Barker, 1641). The same in print, with the Order of the House of Commons.

f. 133: Verses Lately written by Thomas Earle of Strafford (London printed, 1641) Printed copy of verses attributed to Lord Strafford.

f. 134: The Earle of Strafford his ellegiack poem, as it was pen’d by his owne hand a little before his Death. Printed in the Yeare 1641. Another printed edition of the preceding verses. At the bottom of this is written, in the same hand with many of the Annotations, ‘Strafford never made Verse in his Life. Teste Epis. Armagh.’ [witness, Bishop of Armagh].

ff. 135-136r:. ‘His Maj[esty’s] Letter to the Lords in the behalfe of the Earle of Strafford, sent by the Prince, May 10, 1641’. With historical notices subjoined. . Original page numbering: 293-295.

f. 136r: Verses on Strafford’s Death by John Cleveland. CELM: ClJ 191. Original page numbering: 295.

f. 137: Act for Abolishing Archbishops, Bishops, Chancellors [etc.]. May 27, 1641. Original page numbering: 297.

f. 138: Requisitions from the Commons to the Lords, delivered by Pym, Jun. 24, 1641.

f. 139: The Queen’s desire to go to Spa in Low Germany for her health: her reply to the committee from both houses of Parliament. Original page numbering: 301.

f. 140: ‘Articles of High Treason against the Lord Kymbalton, Mr. John Pym, Mr. Densell Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerigge, Mr. Hampden, & Mr. Stroud,’ Jan. 3, 1642. Original page numbering: 305.

f. 141: The King’s Proclamation for apprehending Mr. Denzell Hollis, Sir Arthur Heslerigg, Mr. John Pym, John Hampden, Mr. Wm. Strode, Jan. 5 1642. Subjoined is this note. ‘The Lord Keeper refused to seale this Proclamation, whereupon it was only pasted up at White-Hall Gate, but went no furder, being 2 or 3 dayes after supressed upon paine of Death. Original page numbering: 307.

f. 142: blank.

ff. 143-144: A Copy of a Letter y^t was found among those Jesuits y^t were taken at Clarkenwell in London, & addressed to the Rector of Bruxells, March 1628. Original page numbering: 311-314.