Harley MS 7004

This is a miscellaneous collection. It includes some items which relate largely or wholly to England, such as the Elizabethan papers on harquebusiers and trained bands (ff. 175r-176v, 177r-179r). There are also outlying documents either side of the heart of the collection in the late 16th- and early 17th-centuries.

The collection falls into three main categories:

ff. 1r-142v: Papers relating to Scottish and Anglo-Scottish matters. A number of the letters are to the Scottish courtier Adam Newton (later 1st baronet), Dean of Durham and tutor, and then secretary, to Henry, Prince of Wales, son of James I. The volume also includes a number of his letters to his brother-in-law Sir Thomas Puckering, 1613-1628 (ff. 66r-94v).

ff. 143r-269v: Papers and correspondence relating to Ireland. Apart from Lord Wentworth's speech to the Irish House of Parliament in 1634, these are all Elizabethan, and include significant materials on the military establishment.

ff. 273r-298v: Papers and correspondence relating to the Elizabethan Council in the Marches of Wales (where they can be dated, within the period 1588-1596).

Contents:

ff. 1r-2v: Letter of John Knox to Sir William Cecil, Dieppe, 22 Apr 1559. Copy.

ff. 3r-4v: Letter of Patrick Adamson, Archbishop of St Andrews to John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, St Andrews, 16 Jun 1584. With address and a note on the back, 'the receat of this Letter I signifiet to your ma[jes]tiie at Nonesuch in sommer A[nn]o 1584'. A further note says that the letter was 'Given by Mr Geo: Holmes' (presumably the archivist George Holmes, 1661/2-1749).

ff. 5r-v: Letter of Andreas Melvinus [?Andrew Melville] to Thomas Savile and George Carleton of Oxford (at Oxford) , London, 15 Dec 1584. In Latin. With address.

ff. 6r-7v: Letter of Matthew Stewart, 13th or 4th Earl of Lennox to Thomas Randolph, ambassador, Glasgow, 7 Jul 1570. With Lennox's signature, address and endorsement. Also provenance note on the back: Given by Mr Worseley of Yorkshire [i.e. Henry Worsley, recte of Hampshire], 5 Dec 1711.

ff. 8r-9v: Discharge by Mary, Queen of Scots to her Secretary, Claude Nau de la Boissellière, for all sums expended on her behalf, and acknowledging his faithful service, Tutbury, 29 Sep 1585. Copy. In French. Endorsement in French/ A further endorsement states that this item was given [to Harley] by George Holmes.

ff. 10r-11v: Certain articles reasoned and concluded of by the General Assembly touching the policy and discipline of the Church of Scotland, the King's Commissioners being present to pass in Law in times to come, Edinburgh, 10-21 May 1586.

ff. 12r-15v: List of 'The names of the disordered persons of Tivedall [Teviotdale or Tweeddale] that have robbed within the Marches, as by the Book of Triew may appear', 1586. Late 16th century hand. The endorsement glosses 'all notable Theves as also certayne of England'. A late endorsement notes as given by Mr [Henry] Worsley of Hampshire. the names and residences are both included.

ff. 16r-17v: Letter of Henri de Lorraine, Duke of Guise to the executors of the will of Mary, Queen of Scots, camp at Joigny, 15 Oct 1587. Endorsement in French. A later endorsement states that this was given by George Holmes.

ff. 18r-19v: Letter of Sir Robert Sidney to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 7 Sep 1588. On an ambassadorial mission to Scotland. Touching the King of Scots and state of Scotland. Probably in Sidney's hand throughout.

ff. 19*r-20v: Letters Patent of Nobility of James VI, King of Scots to Nicholas Cragy [?Craig, ?Craigie] 1 Aug 1593. Draft.

ff. 21r-22v: Will of 'Isotta de Canonis Castelvitriis' [Isotta de Canonici] formerly wife of Dr Thomas Erastus and now wife of Giacomo Castelvetro, Edinburgh, 7 Mar 1594. With mark of witness. In Latin. The text says 1593, so either old style 1594 (if she is following Edinburgh practice) or new style 1593 if following continental. [Castelverto was Italian master to King James VI]. A later endorsement notes bought of Mr G. Paul's landlady.

ff. 23r-24v: A brief [list] of the Acts of Parliament at the Parliament at Edinburgh ended 8 Jun 1594. Endorsed as given by Mr George Holmes.

ff. 25r-26v: The form of this last Scottish Parliament and matters published, [1587]. In Scots. Contemporary (it refers to the beginning of Parliament 15 Jun instant). Endorsement for Sir Andrew [?] Murray and a later endorsement that this was bought of Mr G. Paul.

ff. 27r-28v: Letter of Philipp Julius, Duke of Pomerania to John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, 'Bardensi' [?Barth], 5 May 1595. In Latin. With address.

ff. 29r-30v: Letter of Henry Ranelius to John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, Hamburg, 18 May 1595, with postscript 'Hafniae' [Copenhagen], 4 Jun 1595. In Latin. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr G. Paul's landlady.

ff. 31r-v: Letter of John Johnston to Adam Newton, tutor to Prince Henry (at London), Edinburgh, 9 Feb 1607. In Latin.

ff. 32r-33v: Letter of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline to Adam Newton, Dean of Durham and preceptor [tutor] to Prince Henry, Edinburgh, 8 Apr 1607. In Scots. With address and seal.

ff. 34r-35v: Letter of Henri de Lorraine, Duke of Guise to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, Joigny, 15 Oct [1587]. The endorsement says 1607, but 1587 is far more likely. In French. Endorsed as given by George Holmes.

ff. 36r-37v: Letter of James Elphinstone, 1st Lord Balmerino to Adam Newton, Dean of Durham and tutor to Prince Henry (at Court), 3 Feb 1608. With address. On the back is also written 'Henricus P.': Prince Henry's signature?

ff. 38r-39v; Grant by King James I of debts in France owing to late Mary, Queen of Scots to Ludovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and named others, 4 and 5 Mar 1608. Copy. In Scots. the copyist notes, 'faithfully ortographyed from the original to make yor. Lp. laughe'. Noted as given by George Holmes.

ff. 40r-41v: Letter of Andrew Sinclair to Prince [Henry?], 22 Apr 1608. In Scots. The letter is addressed to 'The Prince his grace'.

ff. 42r-43v: Letter of Andrew Sinclair to Sir Thomas Chaloner, Gladsax [Denmark], 10 May 1608. In Scots. With address: in Chaloner's absence to Edward [sic] Newton, preceptor to Prince Henry. Asking him to send the 'Den [?Danish] Doggs' to the Prince.

ff. 44r-45r: Letter of [?Sir] John Skene to Prince [Henry], Edinburgh, 5 Oct 1609. In Latin. With address and seals.

ff. 46r-47v: Letter of William Adamson to Adam Newton, Principal Secretary to Prince Henry, Craigcrook, 16 Jul 1611. With address and seal.

ff. 48r-v: John Erskine, Lord Erskine to Adam Newton, Secretary to Prince Henry, Edinburgh, 10 Mar 1612. With address and seal.

ff. 49r-v: Wm Erskyn to Adam Newton, Secretary to Prince Henry, Berwick [?], 21 Feb 1613. In Scots. With address. The letter is dated 21 Feb 16ii, so either new style (so 1612) or the author did not know of the Prince's death on 6 Nov 1612.

ff. 50r-51v: Letter of Ludovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Ambassador in France, London, 19 May 1612. With address and seal. A later endorsement notes as given by George Holmes.

ff. 52r-53v: Letter of Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden to Christian IV, King of Denmark, 10 Jul 1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 54r-55v: Letter of Christian IV, King of Denmark to Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden, 17 Jul 1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 56r-57v: Letter of Robert Anstruther to Adam Newton, Principal Secretary to Prince Henry, Copenhagen, 26 Oct 1612. With address and seal. A later endorsement notes as bought of Mr George Paul.

ff. 58r-59v: Letter of Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden to Christian IV, King of Denmark, 10 Aug1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 60r-61v: Letter of Christian IV, King of Denmark to Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden, Copenhagen, 18 Sep 1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 62r-63v: Letter of Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden to Christian IV, King of Denmark, Stockholm, 8 Oct 1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 64r-65v: Letter of Christian IV, King of Denmark to Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden, Copenhagen, 18 Sep 1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 66r-66v: Letter of Christian IV, King of Denmark to Gustav II Adolf [Gustavus Adolphus], King of Sweden, Copenhagen, 24 Oct 1612. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 67r-v: Letter of Adam Newton to [Sir Thomas Puckering (travelling through Italy)], Durham House, 19 Jan 1613. Newton addresses Puckering as his 'very loving Brother': his was his brother-in-law and the identification is confirmed at ff. 69r-70v. In this letter, amongst news, he laments the loss of Prince Henry, his master.

ff. 68r-v: Letter of Adam Newton to [Sir Thomas Puckering]. [Durham?] House, Feb 1613.

ff. 69r-70v: Letter of Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, from the brethren's house at Deptford, 30 Sep 1617. With address and fragments of seal, and Puckering's endorsement. Later e3ndorsement that bought of Mr Baker.

ff. 71r-72v: Letter of Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Charlton, 13 Oct 1617. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 73r-74v: Letter of Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, London, 8 Dec 1617. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 75r-76v: Letter of Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Fleet Street, 26 Feb 1618. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 77r-78v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, St James, 7 Jun 1620. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 79r-80v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, St James, 5 Jul 1620. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 81r-82v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Fleet Street, London, 9 Aug 1620. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 83r-84v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Fleet Street, London, 25 Oct 1617. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 85r-86v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Charlton, 2 May 1627. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 87r-88v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Charlton, 14 Aug 1627. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 89r-90v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Charlton, 8 Feb 1628. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 91r-92v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Charlton, 26 Feb 1628. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 93r-94v: Letter of Sir Adam Newton to Sir Thomas Puckering, Fleet Street, London, 22 Oct 1628. With address and seal. Endorsed as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 95r-96v: Letter of Sir Alexander Newton ['A. Newtonus'] to Adam Newton, Dean of Durham, his uncle, St Andrews, 1 Aug [no year]. With address. later endorsement that this was bought of Mr Paul's landlady. In Latin. With address,

ff. 97r-98v: Letter of ten Scottish bishops (headed by John Spottiswoode, Archbishop of St Andrews and James Law, Archbishop of Glasgow) to George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, St Andrews, 9 Oct 1615. With signatures, address and seals. Against George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly.

ff. 99r-100v: Letter of Ludovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox to Monsieur Beaulieu, Secretary to the Ambassador of Great Britain, London, 10/1 Feb 1617. In French. With address and seal. Noted in a later endorsement as given by George Holmes.

ff. 101r-102v: Letter of Ludovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox to Monsieur Beaulieu, Secretary to the Ambassador of Great Britain, Dumfries, 4 Aug 1617. In French. With address and seal. Noted in a later endorsement as given by George Holmes.

ff. 103r, 104r, 105r: Three texts of the proclamation of Charles I as King upon the death of his father at the Market Cross in Edinburgh, 31 Mar 1625. With the attestation of noblemen and councillors witnessing. ff. 103r, 104r are copies; f. 105r is the original, with the attesters' signatures.

ff. 106r-107v: Letter of Sir James Fullerton to Sir Adam Newton, 7 Oct 1628. With address and seal. Noted as bought of Mr G. paul's landlady.

ff. 108r-109v: Letter of Sir James Fullerton to David Cuningham (at his chamber in Fleet Street), 12 Oct 1628. With address and partial seal. Noted in a later endorsement of bought of Mr G. Paul's landlady.

ff. 110r-111v: Letter of David Cuningham to Sir Thomas Puckering, London, 18 Jul 1631. With address and seal. Noted as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 112r-113v: Letter of Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey to Henry de Vic, Resident at Paris, from aboard HMS 'Merhonor' riding in the Downs, 11 Aug 1635. With address and seal. The address notes this to be 'For his Maties special affaires', and 'these with speed'. A later endorsement notes this as bought of Mr [Thomas] Baker.

ff. 114r-v: Letter of James Ramsay to Sir John Burrough, Hanau, 25 Sep / 5 Oct 1636. With address and partial seal.

ff. 115r-v: Letter of James Ramsay to Sir John Burrough, Hanau, 27 Sep 1636. With address.

ff. 116r-v: Letter of Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyll, to unknown recipient, Edinburgh, 19 Sep 1640. A letter of exhortation to appear at the rendezvous at Leith, 8 Oct.

ff. 117r-v: Letter of recommendation by the Moderator (James Sharp) and remnant brethren of the Presbytery of St Andrews of George Ramsay, student of divinity, to be admitted a preacher, 24 Jan 1656. A later endorsement notes that this was sent to me by Dr [Hugh] Todd.

ff. 118r-119v: Letter of John Forbes [probably of Corse] to Gerardus Joannes Vossius, 8 Aug 1644. In Latin. With address. An endorsement gives the date 15 Aug 1715, presumably the date it entered the Harleian collection.

ff. 120r-121v: Draft: author and recipient ['My lord'] not given, n.d. [17th century]. The author refers to a settlement that the recipient has made between the former and Lord Balmerino; also to an accident between the Lord Lyon at Arms and the author's agent Mr Ward. A later endorsement notes as given by Mr Fiddis.

ff. 122r-v: Letter of Sir David Lindsay, Lyon King Arms of Arms to Thomas Balye[?] servant to the Earl of Dunbar, 22 Mar [no year]. With address and seal. There were three David Lindsays who held this post: assuming the two later this could be between 1568 and 1620.

ff. 123r-125v: Copy of certain letters written by Robert Logan of Restalrig a clear discovery of his foreknowledge and participation in the treason of the Earl of Gowrie. The letters that are dated are 18 and 31 July. See Oxford DNB for a discussion of these letters as probably forgeries which appeared after Logan's death in 1606.

ff. 126r-127v: Letter of Alexander Leighton to Adam Newton, Dean of Durham and tutor to Prince Henry, n.d. With address. In Latin. From the form of Newton's styles, between 1606 and 1610. Concerning presentation to a vacant living, 'St Iles'. A later endorsement notes as bought from Mr G. Paul's landlady.

ff. 128r-v: Letter of Dr William Bruce to Adam Newton, tutor to Prince Henry, Poland, n.d. With address. In Latin.

ff. 129r-v: Letter of Alexander Hartley to Adam Newton, tutor of Prince Henry, Amiens[?], 11 Jun, no year. With address and seal. A later endorsement notes bought of Mr G. Paul's landlady.

ff. 130r-131v: Letter of David Black to Mr Robert Dyllon [Dillon?], date lost [16th century]. Noted as given by Mr George Holmes.

ff. 132r-133v: Letter of Earl of Morton to Thomas Randolph, Master of the Queen's Pots, n.d. [date, except for 'second' lost]. Randolph held this post from May 1567 until his death in 1590. The Earl of Morton here could be James Douglas, 4th Earl (d. 1581), Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl (d. 1588), William Douglas, 6th Earl (d. 1606) or, least likely, John Maxwell, Earl of Morton from 1581-1585. With later endorsement that this was given by Mr Worsley.

ff. 134r-135v: Letter of [illegible: 4 or 5 letters ending 'ly',of E[or 'T'] W to Adam Newton, Dean of Durham, n.d. [1606-1620]. With address and seals. In Scots. The 19th-century index, f. ii recto, suggests Alexander Livingston, 1st Earl of Linlithgow.

ff. 136r-137v: Letter of Lord Gordon to 'my Lord Lieutenants grace', n.d. With address. In Scots. From later endorsement, this was given by Henry Worsley.

ff. 137r-v: Letter of Frances Campbell, Lady Glenorchy to her 'cosen', Mrs Collpeper (at her house in St James Street, London, 'Finlang' [?], 9 Jun 1687. With address. Noted as bought of H.W. [?Henry Worsley].

ff. 138r-v: Letter of Frances Campbell, Lady Glenorchy to her 'cosen', Mrs Collpeper (at her house in St James Street, London), n.d. With address and seal.

ff. 139r-140r: Theses proposed by the King in Scotland concerning church government. In Latin.

ff. 141r-142v: Copies of two letters, one from Elizabeth I to James VI, King of Scots and the other from James VI to Elizabeth, both n.d. Noted in later endorsement as given by George Holmes.

ff. 143r-146v: A brief declaration of the charges grown since the arrival of Sir Anthony St Leger as Lord Deputy of Ireland (14 Sep 1553 - 30 Apr 1555). An endorsement described this as the estate of the garrison in st Leger's time.

f. 147r: Elizabethan index to items relating to the Army (mainly in Ireland).

ff. 148r-156v: The state of the army and garrisons in Ireland at the departure of Sir Henry Sidney as Lord Deputy, April 1571.

ff. 157r-162v: The state of the army and garrisons in Ireland at the departure of Sir Henry Sidney as Lord Deputy, April 1571.

ff. 163r-166*v: The state and numbers of the army and garrisons in Ireland as was established by Sir Henry Sidney, from 1 Sep 1578, with the monthly charge for a month of 28 days.

ff. 167r-172v: The state and charges of the army and garrisons in Ireland, with their monthly and annual charges, Jun 1577. On f. 172r is a note: 'Recepit Parsimonia N.[?] Patteson 1590'.

ff. 173r-174v: The state and charges of the army and garrisons in Ireland, Dec 1575.

ff. 175r-176v: A manner of the exercising of harquebusiers, n.d. [reign of Elizabeth?]. The endorsement, but not the text, specifies Ireland, and the text - a scheme for the establishment of companies of harquebusiers in counties and corporate towns, if anything suggests England rather than Ireland. Amongst other privileges, at the times usual 'for the sportes of Robin Hoode mydsomer Lordes and Ladies' the fellowship of harquebusiers only were to show themselves with drum and fife and other music and make collection for a common box for the fellowship. The use of the bow was to be continued, chiefly in villages, 'and by some more pleasante meanes to drawe youthe thereunto'.

ff. 177r-179v: Concerning mustering and training of soldiers, n.d. [reign of Elizabeth].

ff. 180r-181v: A note of the defaults of the chief of the gentlemen of County Cork and of others, with an opinion for the redress thereof, delivered by Her majesty's commissioners in the Province of Munster to the Lord Justice, n.d. [reign of Elizabeth].

ff. 182r-183v: Matters touching the allowance to be paid to the country, Ireland, n.d [1577?]. A paper laying out the political responses to the chargers laid upon Ireland to support the army, and the proposed compositions. Contemporary: noted as a true copy.

ff. 184r-185v: A note of the men of war now maintained within the Province of Ulster by the several Lords and principal gentlemen of the province, and what the charges grow unto for their year's pay, 26 Nov 1579. This gives the numbers of footmen and horsemen (totals of 4,500 foot men and 1,300 horsemen) , comments on their charge, and notes that there are as many idle men in Ulster more maintained within the Province, who are not spoken of because they are not waged. the author notes that he has sent it so 'your honour' might know the state of Ulster, and fund the probability of the enterprise, 'wch no doute settled garrisons will bringe to passe'. The date is from the head of the document; the endorsement gives the date 22 Nov.

ff. 186r-187v, ff. 188r-v: Submissions and petitions of Oreighlie [Aodh Connallach Ó Raghallaigh of East Breifne, Hugh O'Reilly], Chief of his Nation, and of his brethren, sons and rest of his or their followers, to the lord Justice before Sir Edward Fitton and Sir Lucas Dillon, Kells, 6 Jun 1579. Two texts of the same submission, ff. 186r-187v in English, ff. 188r-v in Latin.

ff. 189r-v: Last page of a survey of the state and charges of the army in Ireland, n.d. From the hand in the margin, but less certainly that of the main text, this may belong with ff. 173r-174v, Dec 1575.

ff. 190r-v: letter of unknown author to 'Yor l[ordship]' [?the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney], 'Tallaghe' [or 'Eallaghe'], 20 Feb 1576.

ff. 191r-192v: List of the new-furnished bands upon the going into Munster, 1597.

ff. 193r-199v: the new establishment of army and garrisons drawn by Sir William Drury, Lord Deputy, Jun 1579.

ff. 200r-204v: Brief of the rising out of the Irish and others to the general hosting to begin 1 Aug 1579.

ff. 205r-v: A 'Plott' [plan] for the better inhabiting of Clandeboye, 'the Rowt' and 'the Gloynes' upon an offer made by certain inhabitants of the said countries, n.d. [reign of Elizabeth].

ff. 206r-207v: The total of the military establishment, 1579. This looks incomplete and may complement, if not complete. ff. 193r-199v.

ff. 208r-209v: Author not given, A copy of my note exhibited at the Court both to the Lord Treasurer (William Cecil, 1st Baron Burleigh) and to Sir Francis Walsingham, Principal Secretary to be considered forthwith at my coming as followeth: To be considered for this your resolution for Ireland.

ff. 210r-211v: A note of what carriages are to be answered out of the five counties of the English Pale: what is already for the rising out of the gentlemen and what remaineth for furnishing of the army.

ff. 212r-215v: Instructions of the Privy Council to Captain William Piers, Westminster, 26 May 1580. Copy. Noted as received 17 Jun 1580. For dealing with Turlough Luineach O'Neill and other matters in the North.

ff. 216r-217v: A descriptive note of the havens of the west of Ireland, n.d. [reign of Elizabeth].

ff. 217r-218v: The plot for the service intended against the rebel Rorie Oge Omore [Ruairi Óg Ó Mórdha], the principal charge whereof is committed to Colonel Henry Harrington, to begin on 11 July, Castle-Dermot, 1 Jul 1577. The plot includes the military forces, the commissions and letters.

ff. 219r-220v: Petitions of Turlough Luineach O'Neill, with answers in the margin. Dated 1579 in the endorsement, but given that his petition asks for the Earl of Essex, to whom he has submitted, to act as a mediator for him, 1575 (or possibly 1576).

ff. 221r-222v: The allowance appointed by Queen Elizabeth I to the Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal in Ireland, 26 Apr 1580.

ff. 223r- 224v: The distribution of carriages for the army, to the proclaimed hosting general, to have begun 10 Jan 1580 and prorogued to 24 Feb 1580. Noted that distribution was concluded upon 16 Jan 1580.

ff. 225r-226v: Heads of matters propounded to Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, and his particular agreements to the same, at Dublin Castle, before the Lord Deputy [Sir William Russell], 17 Aug 1594.

ff. 227r-228v: Forces of Queen Elizabeth I against Gerald Fitz James Fitzgerald, 14th earl of Desmond, and against Ulster, 1579.

ff. 229r-230v, 231r-v: Letter of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone to the Lord Deputy (Sir William Russell) and Council, his lodging, 16 Aug 1594. Noted as read the same day. Two copies; ff. 229r-230v is the less damaged.

ff. 232r-233v: Informer's letter [unsigned; Dyaper or Draper according to endorsement] offering information in Ireland, especially against the Earl of Tyrone and other rebels, and telling of his expertise and practices, n.d.

ff. 234r-235v: Notes (largely from correspondence) on Gerald Fitz James Fitzgerald, 14th Earl of Desmond, in Munster (24 Oct-29 Nov 1579) and on Turlough Luineach O'Neill and Hugh O'Neill, Baron of Dungannon (later 2nd Earl of Tyrone in Ulster, 19-22 Nov 1579. On f. 234r is a brief summary of the Queen's forces against Desmond; on f. 235r an estimate of the men of war maintained by the noblemen and gentlemen in Ulster.

ff. 236r-237v: Letter of Sir Richard Bulkeley to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Beaumaris, 24 Jun 1590. With address and seal. He reports the speeches of an Irishman taken in Anglesey, speaking of Ireland and the prospect of a Spanish invasion.

ff. 238r-241r: A breviate or summary of the charges against the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, taken out of book at large, 1592. The date comes from the endorsement, making the Chancellor Adam Loftus. Evidently extracted by Robert Legge.

ff. 242r-243v: Letter of Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Dublin Castle, 24 Apr 1585. With address. On the state of Ireland.

ff. 244r-245v: Letter of Sir William Fitzwilliam, Lord Deputy of Ireland, to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper, Dublin Castle, 25 Apr 1594. With address. A later endorsement notes that this was bought of Mr Baker.

ff. 246r-247v: Letter of Sir William Fitzwilliam, Lord Deputy of Ireland, to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper, Dublin Castle, 7 May 1594. With address and seal. A later endorsement notes that this was bought of Mr Baker.

ff. 248r-249v: Letter of Robert Legge to Sir John Puckering, 2 Mar 1593. With seal and address; the address adds, 'from Ireland for her ma[jest]ties service'.

ff. 250r-251v: Letter of Sir Edward Moore to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in England, Dublin, 24 Nov 1594. With address and seal.

ff. 252r-254v: Letter of Sir Robert Napier, Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland, and Anthony St Leger to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper, Dublin, 13 Jan 1595. With address and seals. The letter is f. 252r. Enclosed, ff. 253r-v, is a fuller presentation of their case about income and property not received to the Privy Council.

ff. 255r-256v: Letter of Sir Henry Wallop to unknown recipient (addressed as 'your honorable L.'), Dublin, 17 Nov 1595. On the state of Ireland.

ff. 257r-258v: Letter of Sir Henry Wallop to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper, Dublin, 17 Nov 1595.

ff. 259r-269v: Speech of the Lord Deputy (Thomas Wentworth, Baron Wentworth) to the Irish Houses of Parliament, Dublin, 15 Jul 1634. Later endorsement on f. 269v that this was bought of H.W.

ff. 270r-271v: Letter of Katherine, Lady Daubeney to the Lord Privy Seal, Foots Cray, Kent, n.d. With address. The hand could be Elizabethan, but could be earlier, and the (incomplete) signature certainly looks significantly earlier. About lands in Wales. Plausibly Lady Daubeney is Katherine Howard (d. 1554), daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. She married (1) Rhys ap Gruffudd (d. 1531) and (2) Henry Daubeney, 2nd Baron Daubeney (d. 1538; they married 1532 or 1533 and although they separated in 1535, her title would have remained Lady Daubeney until he was created Earl of Bridgwater in 1538).

ff. 272r-273v: Memorandum concerning the motion of the Lord President of the Council of Wales (probably Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke) for Councillors learned in the law to be placed there, n.d. [reign of Elizabeth].

ff. 274r-275v: A brief declaration of the present state of the Council in the Marches of Wales, n.d. The presence of Sir Richard Shuttleworth, Chief Justice of Chester, on the Council places the document 1589-1600; reference to the late, but not the present, Earl of Derby being on the Council may put the document to after the death of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl, on 25 Sep 1593.

f276r: Letter of John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir John Puckering and William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley to , at the Court, 11 Feb 1596. Copy. Penry Williams, p. 291, fn. 32 identifies to the recipient as Richard Shuttleworth

f. 277r: Articles for Wales, n.d.

ff. 279r-280v: Memorandum for Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, President of the Council in the Marches of Wales,: for the increase in the number of Councillors, 4 Sep 1592.

ff. 281r-282v: Articles to be considered for the needful redress of those things hereafter mentioned with the Principality and Marches of Wales, 1594. Endorsed as Instructions from the Lord President (Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke), Oct 1594. Part of Article 7 and all of Article 8 lost.

ff. 283r-284v: Articles to be considered for the needful redress of those things hereafter mentioned with the Principality and Marches of Wales, Oct 1594.

ff. 285v-286v, 287r-288v: Articles to be considered for the government of Wales, 1593. Two copies of the same document. The date comes from the heading of the second document, f. 287r.

f. 289r: Memorandum on legal business, fees and diet belonging to the Council of the Marches in Wales, n.d.

ff. 290r-291v: Letter of William Fowler, a member of the Council in the Marches in Wales, to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper, Ludlow, 17 Oct 1594. With address.

f. 292r: A note of the Assize Sessions days in North Wales, and who was presiding. In Latin. The days listed run from Jul 1588-Oct 1593.

ff. 293r-294v: Letter of William Fowler to Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper, Harnage, 15 Mar 1594. With address.

ff. 295r-297r: Articles ordered by Queen Elizabeth I to be reformed in her Council established in Wales upon such informations as have been given to her and now upon her commandment put by us into these articles.

ff. 298r-v: Letter of Richard Brooke to John Puckering, Queen's Serjeant at Law, 1590. The date comes from the endorsement (it only says Thursday in the text). With address. From the address, the date has to be 1585-1592.

ff. i recto-iii recto: 19th-century list of contents.