Harley MS 6986

Letters and state papers of English sovereigns, from the reign of King Henry VI to the reign of King James I.

ff. 1r-2r Letters patent, sent from King Henry VI to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Containing a list of demands, and the King's answer to each article. Kennington, 11 May [1437].

ff. 3r-6r Copies of inscriptions and signatures made by King Henry VII in a prayer book written and illuminated on parchment. The book was given to his daughter Margaret, Queen of Scotland. With a copy of an inscription made by Margaret, Queen of Scotland, at her donation of the book to the Archbishop of St Andrews.

f. 7r-7v Letter from King Henry VII to Thomas Bosvian and James Carew of Cornwall. Acknowledging their revenge on the Scottish forces, and making a loan towards the war. Westminster, 1 December [no year mentioned].

f. 8r-8v Letter from King Henry VIII to Sir John Fitzjames, Lord Chief Justice. Requiring him to raise able men among his own tenants, office and jurisdiction, for the wars. Greenwich, 30 May [1513].

ff. 9r-10v Licence issued by King Henry VIII to Humfrey Lloyd. To wear his bonnet both in the King’s presence and elsewhere, by reason of the infirmities in his head. Wyndefoure, 12 June [1527].

f. 11r-11v Letter from Queen Mary of France to her brother King Henry VIII. On her recent recovery, and plans to shortly come to London. 1528.

f. 12r-12v Letter from King Henry VIII to William Broke, eldest son of the Lord Cobham. A letter of licence or passport to travel abroad with two servants, three horses and 20 pounds. June 4 [1542]. Parchment.

ff. 13r-14v Letter from Prince Edward to his sister Princess Mary. A letter of compliment. [Hertford], 10 January. Autograph. Latin.

ff. 15r-16v Letter from Prince Edward to the Queen. Hampton Court, no date. Autograph. French.

ff. 17r-18v Letter from King Edward VI to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Requiring him to raise and send 15 men and horses to Newcastle, against the Scottish forces. Signed by the Earl of Somerset, Lord Protector. Hampton Court, 14 July [1548].

ff. 19r-20v Letter from Princess Elizabeth to her brother King Edward VI. Enfield, 14 February. Autograph. Latin.

ff. 21r-22v Letter from Princess Elizabeth to her brother King Edward VI. Ashridge, 20 September. Autograph. Latin.

ff. 23r-24v Letter from Princess Elizabeth to her brother King Edward VI. Hatfield, ‘this present saterday’. Autograph. Sealed with the impression of a rose [no longer present].

ff. 25r-26v Letter to King Edward VI, probably dictated by Princess Elizabeth. Requesting that her servants may have liberty to attend her as before. Honesden, 4 April. Sealed with the impression of a rose [no longer present].

ff. 27r-28v Order from Queen Mary to Thomas Fyssher. To raise and send a man and horse, appropriately accoutered, to the border with Scotland, against the Scottish and French forces. St. James’s Palace, 18 June [1557-1558]. With a note by Fyssher recording the cost of this order.

ff. 29r-30v Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Thomas Randolph, ambassador in Scotland. 11 October [1562].

ff. 31r-32v Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Thomas Randolph, ambassador in Scotland. Concerning the request of the Earl of Sutherland to live in England under her protection. Windsor Castle, 2 September 1563.

f. 33r-33v Copy of a letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland. Requesting the restoration of some goods and money of hers, which was shipwrecked near the borders, and retained by inhabitants there. Edinburgh, 11 February 1565.

ff. 34r-35v Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Robert Bowes and William Davison. Requesting them to relate to King James VI that his acceptance of an association in the Government, as proposed to him by the French ambassador, would be inconvenient to her. Richmond, 29 January 1581.

f. 36r-36v Letter from L’Abate del Male, anzi del Bene, to Queen Elizabeth I. Sending compliments, indicating his desire to serve her, and discussing the dress of the French women. Paris, 21 March 1582. French. Decoration: gold border illustrations with emblems and mottos.

ff. 37r-38v Warrant from Queen Elizabeth I to John Ashley, treasurer of the jewels, and Richard Martin, mailer of the Mint. Requesting them to lend Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, 4000 pounds upon his bond, for six months, from the silver bullion brought to England by Sir Francis Drake. Westminster, 10 April 1584.

ff. 39r-40v Draft of a letter from Queen Elizabeth I to the Earl of Shrewsbury. On her conference with the French ambassador concerning Mary, Queen of Scots, then at Sheffield under the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury. No date.

ff. 41r-42v Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to William Davison, ambassador in the Low Countries. 31 October 1585.

f. 43r-43v Letter from King James VI of Scotland to Archibald Douglas. Concerning a passport for James Curies. Stirling Castle, 4 September 1586.

ff. 44r-45v Letter from King James VI of Scotland to Sir Francis Walsingham. Sending a messenger to inquire after the health of Queen Elizabeth I, following the recent discovery of conspiracy against her. Palaces of Falkland, 9 September 1586. Autograph.

ff. 45r-46v Letter from John Dee to Queen Elizabeth I. Sending congratulations upon her defeat of the Spanish Armada, and following the Queen’s will for his return to England from Bohemia, with Edward Kelley and their families. 10 November 1588.

ff. 47r-48v Copy of a letter from King James VI and I to Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie. Promising him a temporal Lordship from the rents of the Bishop of Murray. Sent from Croneburgh, Denmark. No date. A copy attested by T. Ruddiman, Edinburgh, 25 May 1725.

ff. 49r-50v Copy of a letter from Queen Elizabeth I to the Lord Keeper, on behalf of one Gourney and some Aldermen of London. Concerning Sir Walter Lewson’s escape from prison in their shrievalty. 17 March 1592.

ff. 51r-52v Letter from King Christian of Denmark, to his brother in law King James IV. 28 July 1595. Latin.

ff. 53r-54v Letter from King James IV to John Puckering, Lord Keeper. To dispatch the suit of Edward Johnstoun. Holyroodhouse, 3 February 1595.

ff. 55r-56v Warrant of Queen Elizabeth I. To release Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Herford, from the Tower of London. 3 January 1596.

f. 57r List of Knights of the Garter, 24 May 1597. Signed by Queen Elizabeth I. Vellum.

f. 58r-58v Prayer by Queen Elizabeth I, on the sailing of the Azores expedition. Titled ‘The Quenes majesty’s prayer at the goinge owt of the navye 1597’. Not autograph. c. 1597.

f. 59r-59v Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Elizabeth, Lady Drury. On the death of her husband. With a thankful answer from Elizabeth, Lady Drury. 1589.

ff. 61r-62r Letter from Prince Henry to the States General of the United Provinces. Discussing the journey of his servant David Murray into the Low Countries, sending his recommendations and thanks for their good opinion of him, and offering his support. Stirling, 1 September 1600. French.

ff. 63r-64v Letter from [Maria de] Beaulieu, possibly a lady-in-waiting to Marguerite de Valois, to Queen Elizabeth I. Sending compliments. Paris, 14 January 1603.

ff. 65r-66v Letter from King James VI and I to his son Prince Henry. On King James’s accession to the throne. Autograph. No date [1603].

ff. 67r-68v Letter from King James VI and I to his son Prince Henry. Discussing the writing in a letter received from the Prince, and the discovery of a girl that was a counterfeit [of witchcraft]. No date. Seals of the arms of England [post 1603].

ff. 69r-70v Letter from King James VI and I to his ‘littill beagill’ [Robert Cecil, Baron Essendon]. Discussing how Cecil and the Earls of Suffolk and Northampton will govern England during the King’s summer progress. No date. [5 August 1604]. Seals of the arms of England.

ff. 71r-72v Letter from Lady Arabella Stuart to Prince Henry. Autograph. London, 18 October 1605.

f. 73r-73v Letter from Prince Henry to King James VI and I. Soliciting the Deanery of Durham for his tutor Adam Newton. With a fair draft by Newton. Richmond, 23 January 1605.

ff. 74r-75v Letter from Queen Anne to Lady Arabella Stuart. Requesting Stuart permit Thomas Cottings, servant, to enter the service of the King of Denmark. Whitehall, 9 March 1607.

ff. 76r-77v Letter from Prince Henry to Lady Arabella Stuart. Requesting Stuart permit Thomas Cottings, servant, to enter the service of the King of Denmark, due to his skill playing the lute. No date. With a seal of a globe.

ff. 78r-79v Letter from Lady Arabella Stuart to Prince Henry. Sending Thomas Cottings, servant, to the King of Denmark. Sheffield, 15 March 1607.

ff. 80r-81v Letter from Princess Elizabeth to her father King James VI and I. No date. French.

ff. 82r-83v Letter from Princess Elizabeth to Adam Newton, her brother’s tutor. Sending congratulations on his marriage. No date. French.

f. 84r-90v Four letters from Princess Elizabeth to her brother Prince Henry. No dates.

ff. 91r-133v Twenty one letters from Princess Elizabeth to her brother Prince Henry. No dates. French.

ff. 134r-135v Letter from Princess Elizabeth to her brother Prince Henry. 1 January 1604. French.

ff. 136r-153v Nine letters from Princess Elizabeth to her brother Prince Henry. No dates. French.

f. 154r-154v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. A letter of affection, offering to give him anything he has. No date.

f. 155r-155v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. Concerning a suit intended for the King. No date.

f. 156r-156v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. Informing him that, in his absence, he visits his stables and rides his horses, so that he may wait on the Prince upon his return. No date. With a seal of a goat and coronet.

f. 157r-157v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. On hunting the Prince’s hares, and sending his maid’s service. No date. With a seal of a crowned lion passant.

f. 158r-158v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. Expressing satisfaction in hearing of the Prince’s health, and of his longing to return. No date. Latin.

f. 159r-159v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. On his reading of the colloquies of Erasmus. 1609. Latin.

ff. 160r-161v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. Regretting his absence, and desiring him to be as free at Holdenby as himself. Endorsed 1610. Latin.

f. 162r-162v Letter from Prince Henry to the Dauphin of France. Sending a gift of a brace of horses. No date. French.

f. 163r-163v Draft letter from Prince Henry to the Duchess of Brunswick. Partly in the hand of Adam Newton, his tutor. 21 April 1610. French.

ff. 164r-165v Letter from King Christian of Denmark to King James VI and I. Concerning Sir John Selby. 22 September 1610. With a broad seal. Latin.

ff. 166r-167v Letter from Johannes Sigismundus, Elector of Brandenburg, to King James VI and I. Reporting that he has obtained the investiture of Prussia. 15 November 1611. Latin.

ff. 168r-169v Letter from the Duke of Montmorancy, Constable of France, to King James VI and I. Returning the collar of the Order of the Garter, which Queen Elizabeth had given to his late brother. 30 December 1611. French.

ff. 170r-171v Printed form recording a loan by King James VI and I to Edmund Sligh of Derby. For 13l. 6s. 8d., to be repaid in a year and a half. With the receipt of Sir Peter Frechvile, collector, 10 December 1611.

ff. 172r-173v Letter from Charles Baron, of Zerotin, to King James VI and I. A letter of compliment. January 1611. Latin.

ff. 174r-175v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. St James’s Palace, 28 February 1611.

ff. 176r-177v Letter from Charles, Duke of York, to his brother Prince Henry. St James’s Palace, 14 March 1611.

f. 178r-178v Draft letter from Prince Henry to King Louis XIII of France. May 1612. French.

f. 179r-179v Letter from Prince Henry to King Louis XIII of France. August 1612. French.

ff. 180r-181v Copy of a letter from Prince Henry to his father King James VI and I. Concerning the matches proposed for him in France and Savoy. Richmond, 5 October 1612.

ff. 182r-183v Letter from Prince Charles to King James VI and I. On the King’s free forgiveness of some fault. St James’s Palace, 11 March 1612.

ff. 184r-185v Warrant sent from King James VI and I to one of his park keepers. Instructing him to kill a fat doe. Newmarket, 15 December 1615.

ff. 186r-187v Letter from Queen Anne to King James VI and I. A letter of affection. No date. With a seal of her arms.

ff. 188r-189v Letter from Queen Anne to King James VI and I. Glad that the King of Denmark’s horse pleases King James, and that her ‘dog [George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham] dothe well’. No date.

ff. 190r-191v Letter from Queen Anne to her ‘kind dog’ [George Villiers]. Asking him to relate to King James that the King of Denmark has had twelve mares with foal, which she intends to put into Byfield Park. No date.

ff. 192r-193v Letter from Queen Anne to her ‘kind dog’ [George Villiers]. Approving him for ‘lugging the sowes eare’, and desiring his loyalty to the King. No date.

ff. 194r-195v Letter from Queen Anne to George Villiers, Marquess of Buckingham. Asking that he move the King to grant her a reversion of the wardship of George Savile, grandson to Sir George Savile. Denmark House, 2 February 1617.

ff. 196r-197v Letter from Prince Charles to George Villiers, Marquess of Buckingham. On the King’s anger that he should ask the Queen to make a will which leaves him all her jewels. No date.

ff. 198r-199v Petition of George Villiers, Marquess of Buckingham, to King James VI and I. Concerning the Earl of Rutland’s daughter. No date.

ff. 200r-201v Letter from King Frederic of Bohemia to his father in law King James VI and I. Requesting that he give the Baron de Dona a favourable audience, and give himself paternal counsel and alliance. Bresla, 13/23 November 1620. French.

ff. 202r-219v Fourteen letters by Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor, copied from originals in the Advocates’ Library, National Library of Scotland. With some signatures pasted in. As below:

ff. 202r-203v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to John Murray, gentleman of the bedchamber. 27 January 1611.

ff. 203r-204v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. 22 January 1613.

ff. 204r-205v Copy of Sir Francis Bacon’s paper on the examination of Edmond Peacham. 19 January 1614.

ff. 206r-207v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to John Murray, gentleman of the bedchamber. 21 January 1614.

f. 207r Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to John Murray, gentleman of the bedchamber. 25 January 1614.

f. 208r-208v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. 14 February 1614.

f. 209r Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to John Murray, gentleman of the bedchamber. 28 February 1614.

f. 210r-210v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. 12 March 1614.

f. 211r-211v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to John Murray, gentleman of the bedchamber. 6 July 1615.

ff. 212r-213v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. 17 November 1615.

ff. 214r-215v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. 27 January 1615.

f. 216r Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to John Murray, gentleman of the bedchamber. No date.

f. 217r-217v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. No date.

ff. 218r-219v Copy of a letter from Sir Francis Bacon to King James VI and I. 12 October 1620.

Followed by a two-page index of contents.