Add MS 38823

Commonplace book of Sir Edward Hoby, politician and diplomat (1560-1617), containing entries on various subjects including America, Parliament, the Isle of Sheppey, the siege of Calais (1346-1347), and Mary, Queen of Scots.

ff. i-ii) Remains of two parchment fragments of a 13th-century manuscript copy of the Sententiae of Petrus Lombardus.

f.[v] verso Sir Edward Hoby: Quotations on history, kingly justice. Latin.

f. 1r Instructions for geographical and scientific observation, including ‘Instructions for the master’ (f. 2v), ‘Instructions to be observed by Thomas Bayin’ (f. 3v) and instructions for a voyage of discovery to North America.

ff. 5v-7r ‘How the Crowne of England hath most right to all the mayne land & Islandes alongest the coste of America from the Cape of Florida to 58 degrees northwardes’.

ff. 7r-8r ‘Thinges knowen by experyence to be in the Countryes about the Ryver of Norrinberge [Norumbega] which is one of the greatest ryvers in the world. As in Thevetes Cosmographie [André Thevet, Paris, 1575] fo. 1008. As also by Verarzanus [Giovanni da Verrazzano] the discoverer of those costes, and certaine other mens opinions of the sayd parts of the world […]’.

f. 8r Verse, titled ‘incerti authoris’: ‘Since that my eyes are overbolde and make me to offende’.

f. 8v Estimates of the cost of provisions for a voyage of discovery across the Equator: ‘A proporcion of victualls for 50 for one yeare & a half accompted to be 550 dayes sett downe with the most, allowing to every man a pounde of breade, a pynte of wine and a pound of any one of these kindes undernamed by the day’.

ff. 9r-12v An account of the Scottish Earls, Lords of Parliament, principal officers of state, principal favourites of the King’s Chamber and the Lords of Session: ‘A breife opinyon of the estate faction religion & power of the severall noble men in Scotland’: 1583.

ff. 13r-16r ‘The Instrument of the association for the preservacion of her Majesties most royall person’ [1584]. Followed by ‘The daungers that may ensue by the oathe of association herafter if it be not qualefied by a convenient act of parliament’ (f. 14r); ‘These be the cheif pointes as I thinck that trowble mens consciences in the association othe, but the perills that may ensewe herafter shall follow’ (ff. 14v-15v); ‘My motion [to the Council and Committee in the Exchequer Chamber] for remedye’ (ff. 15v-16r).

f. 16v An arrangement of the day for purposes of study: ‘Discendi ordo’. Latin.

ff. 17r-21v Names of the members of the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster, 23 November 27 Eliz. [1584]. Latin.

ff. 22r-24v Statement of the number of ships of various tonnage in London, Essex, Norfolk and elsewhere, 1580. Followed by ‘A breife of masters mariners and fishermen apperteyning to the severall counties and places ensuing’ (f. 22v-24r); ‘The number of all shippes and vessells shippmasters mariners and seamen belonging to the places herunder named taken in the first yere of her Majesties raigne’ (f. 24v).ff. 25r-25v ‘Her Majesties oration the last day of the first session of Parlament 1585’.

ff. 26r-27r Aphorisms arranged in fours: ‘A Quadruplicitie. Maii 16 1585’, beginning ‘There be fower Elementes placed in the world’.

ff. 27v-28v A list of companies of merchants and artificers with their occupations: ‘The names or misteries of all occupations which are severed into bodies pollitique to inhabite with in every counties, townes citties portes and borowghes are theise’.

ff. 29r-29v The Lords of the Council to the Sheriff and Justices of Kent, requiring them to amend former negligence in the suppression of a seditious and traitorous book directed against the Earl of Leicester [‘Leicester’s Commonwealth’]. Greenwich, 20 June 1585.

f. 30r ‘A pasquill of Fraunce 1585’: ‘Voyant de nostre temps l’inconstante maniere’. French.

f. 30r Chidiock Tichborne, ‘Tichborne’s Lament’, titled ‘Verses of T during his imprisonment in the tower 1586’: ‘My prime of youthe is but a frost of cares’.

ff. 30v-33v Instructions for inquiry into treasions upon the sea, piracies, transportation of things unlawful, and similar matters coming under Admiralty jurisdiction in the hundred of Milton, county Kent: ‘Articles given in charge to the Jurye to inquire of by Thomas Caesar gentleman deputie to the right Worshipfull Sir Edward Hoby knight viceadmirall of the hundred of Milton the 9 day of September 1585’.ff. 34r-44v Papers connected with the survey of the Isle of Sheppey: ‘The copie of a Commission for the survey of the Isle of Shepey’, addressed to William [Brooke], Lord Cobham, Warden of the Cinque Ports, Sir Edward Hoby, and others, Westminster, 25 October, 27 Eliz. [1585] (ff. 34r-34v); ‘Instructions for the Commissioners appointed to survey the Isle of Shepey with the Islandes thereto adjoyning compassed about with the salt water’ (ff. 35r-35v); the Lords of the Council to the commissioners, Nonsuch, 24 September, 1585 (f. 36r); The commissioners (Sir Edward Hoby, Michael Sondes, John Ayscough) to the Lords of the Council, Isle of Sheppey, 31 December 1586 (ff. 36v-37v); ‘Liberties to be graunted to the Isles of Shepey Hartey and Elmeley for which the Commissioners appointed for the survey of the same become most humble suters to her most excellent Majestie and the Lords of her highnes most honorable privie Councell’ (f. 38r); certificate of the survey of the Isle of Sheppey and adjoining islands, 1585 (ff. 38v-44v).

ff. 45r-47r Appointment by Charles Howard, Baron Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral, of Sir Edward Hoby to be Vice-Admiral in the hundred of Milton, county Kent. Greenwich, 12 July, 1585. Latin.

f. 47v ‘A letter sent from the Soldan of Babilon to all Christian princes. Anno 1427. Vide D’Enguerran, de Monstrelet: Vol: 2. De chron: fol: 34’. A translation of the letter printed in French in Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Chroniques (1572, II, p. 34).

f. 47v ‘Sonnet de la france, 1587’: ‘Plus ne fault endurer La race de Bourbon’. French.

f. 48r Sir Edward Hoby to Mathieu Coignet, sending his translation of Coignet’s discourses on truth and lying. Greenwich, 19 February, 1586/7. Latin.

f. 48r Elegiac verses on John Russell, second son of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, titled ‘In obitum Johannis Domini Russelli, Edwardi Hoby militis Epicedium, 1584’: ‘Mors Russelle tibi somno suffudit ocellos’. Latin.

f. 48r Verse titled ‘Incerti Authoris’, elsewhere attributed to John Harington of Stepney, courtier (c. 1517-1582): ‘He that spareth to speake hathe hardlie his intent’.

ff. 48v-56r Letter addressed to Sir George Carey, afterwards 2nd Lord Hunsdon, 6 March 1586: ‘A letter sent from a private gentleman to his moste honorable freinde wherein he provethe that he is in farre more happie estate which never was a father then he which hath yssue’.

ff. 56v-57r Guillaume de L’Aubespine, Baron de Châteauneuf (1547-1629), to Queen Elizabeth, London, 18 October 1586: ‘A letter sent from Monsieur de Chasteauef, the French Kings Embassador, to the Queene, concerninge th’examination of the Queene of Scottes’. French.

ff. 57r-57v Verse titled ‘Defiance to desyer’: ‘Dye die desire and bid delight adieu’.

ff. 58r-58v Commission of the States General of the Netherlands to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, appointing him Governor General, January [1 February] 1586: ‘A Commission of the States to Robert Earle of Lecester’. Latin.

f. 58v Licence to pass from any port of Holland into England, issued by Henry Goodere, captain of the guard of Robert, Earl of Leicester, Governor General of Belgia, to William Winstanley, of Lathom, county Lancashire, lately one of the said guard. The Hague, 5 February, 158[6].

f. 58v Verse titled ‘Incerti Authoris’, elsewhere attributed to Sir Walter Ralegh, courtier, explorer and author (1554-1618): ‘Like Hermite poore in pensive place obscure’.

ff. 59r-69r Papers relating to the siege of Calais, 1346-1347: ‘The chief Capteines and suche as caried charge with the Kinges charge and expence during the warres and siege of Calleis’ (ff. 59r-64v); numbers of the fleet of Edward III before Calais, including the South fleet (ff. 65r-66r), the North fleet (ff. 66v-67r), and the ships and mariners of strangers (f. 67v); rates of wages in war by the day (ff. 68r-68v); ‘The names of the great Princes and Noble men Estrangers holden in the Kings retinewe and pay not being emprised in the nomber aforesaid’ (f. 68v); Sum of the expenses of the King’s house, ships, etc., in France and Normandy and before the siege of Calais, ‘as appeareth in the accompt of William Norwell, Keeper of the Kings Wardrobe’ (f. 69r).

f. 69r Anthony Babington to Queen Elizabeth, asking for mercy the day before his execution. London, 19 September 1586.

f. 69r Verse titled ‘Babbyngtons devyse in his picture’: ‘Quid facies facies veneris cum verneris ante’. Elegiac couplet. Latin.

f. 69r Motto titled ‘Over his frendes picture’: ‘Hi mihi sunt comites quos alta pericula ducunt’. Single hexameter. Latin.

f. 69v Verse titled ‘The Scottishe Coqalane 1586’: ‘Sick war and wrange whea ever sawe’.

f. 69v Verse titled ‘L’opinion et desir de plusieurs grands parsonages touchant les affaires de France 1586’: ‘Je desiers la paix encores que la guerre je jure’. French.

ff. 69v-82v ‘Here followeth the full processe of Mary Queen of Scottes with the exquisite circumstances therof, digested in order of Chaos’: Queen Mary to Anthony Babington, Chartley, 15 June, 1586 (f. 70r); Anthony Babington to Queen Mary, 6 July, 1586 (ff. 70r-70v); Anthony Babington to Claude Nau de la Boisselière, secretary to Queen Mary, 6 July, 1586 (f. 70v); Queen Mary to Anthony Babington, 17 July, 1586 (ff. 70v-72v); ‘The Queen of Scotts answeare in publique to suche matters as weare objected against her at Foderingay the 14 and 15 day of October, 1586’ (ff. 72v-73r); ‘The Queen of Scotts allegations whie she should not answeare in her private chamber alleaged’ (f. 73v); Commission from Queen Elizabeth for the trail of Queen Mary, Windsor, 6 October 1586. Latin (ff. 74r-75v); ‘Her Majesty’s first answere made by her self to the petition uttered in the names of the whole Court of parliament in her chamber of presence att Richmond November 12 1586’ (ff. 76r-77r); ‘Her Majesty’s seconde answeare delivered by her owne mouth to the second speech uttered in the names of the Lordes and Commons of the parliament in her chamber of presence att Richmond the 24 day of November, 1586’ (ff. 77r-78r); Names of the members of the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster 27 October 1586. Latin (ff. 78v-81v); Petition of Parliament to Queen Elizabeth, 12 November 1586 (ff. 82r-82v).

ff. 83r-83v Account of ordnance and ammunition delivered to Nicholas Arnold, Captain of the Isle of Sheppey, for the defence of Queenborough, the Isle of Sheppey, the Isle of Grain. 15 July 1536.

f. 84r Letter of William Cecil, Baron Burghley and others, authorising Sir Edward Hoby and Sir George Carew to view the state of the Heralds’ College and to inquire into abuses, 4 August 1595.

f. 84v Letter of Sir Edward Hoby and Sir George Carew to the King’s Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms, 9 August 1595.

ff. 85r-86r The Lords of the Council to the English Ambassadors in Flanders, on the guilt of Katherine Howard, Westminster, 12 November 1541.

f. 86v Oath of friendship to the Turks, taken by Henry, Duke of Anjou at his entrance into Poland, 1573.

f. 86v Notes relating to the Heralds’ College, followed by the oath to be administered by Sir Edward Hoby and Sir George Carew in their enquiry into the state of the records. 1595.

f. 86v The Lord’s Prayer. Turkish.

ff. 87r-89r Supposititious ordinances related to the Stews in Southwark. ‘Confirmed by Parliament about Anno 1160’.

f. 89v List of naval captains from the Low Countries: ‘The names of such as served on the narrowe seas in the yeare 1588 accordinge to the league betwene her Majesty and the netherlanders’.

ff. 90r-90v ‘Articles of peace, Demaunded Ultimo Aprilis, 1588 by Sir James Crofts Knight Controwler of her Majesty’s Howsholde, Landinge him Selfe alone at Dunkerk beinge but a Commissioner Deputed amonge other to the Duke of Parma’.

ff. 90v-91r ‘The awnser and replie to the foresaid articles made by the President Richardot and delivered to Mr Comtroler. 10 May 1588’.

ff. 91v-92r ‘The Muster Rowle of the Isles of Sheppie, Harty and Elmely taken before John Aiscough esquier and trained by Thomas Gay gent., the 30 daie of September Anno 1595’.

ff. 93r-95v Letters and reports, 1594-1595, relating to Guiana: ‘Parts of the Copie that went to his Majesty of the Discoverie of Nuevo Dorado’ (ff. 93r-94v); ‘The Raporte of Domingo Martines of Jamaica concerninge the Dorado’ (f. 95r); ‘The Reporte of a Frenchman called Boutillier of Sherbrouck concerning the Trinidad and the Dorado’ (f. 95r); ‘Alonso his letter from the Gran Canari to his brother being Comendador of St Lucar concerning the Dorado’ (f. 95r); ‘Alonsos letters from thence to certaine merchantes of St. Lucar concerning the Dorado’ (f. 95r); ‘The letter of George Butin from the said Canaries unto his Cosin a Frenchman dwelling at St. Lucar, concerninge the Dorado’ (f. 95v).

f. 96r Queen Elizabeth I: Prayer sent by her to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, on his departure on the Cadiz expedition: ‘A prayer made by her Majesty herself on the behalf of her Army, sent into Spaine under the conduct of the right honorable Robert Earle of Essex, and Charles Lord Howard, Lord high Admirall of England’. 1596.

ff. 96v-97r ‘A Sonnett made by the Italians in the disgrace of the Spaniards uppon their overthrowe in England anno 1588’: ‘Tre cose fece Cesare in Hispagna’. Italian.

ff. 98r-100r Instructions for the fleet on the Cadiz expedition, 1596: ‘Instructions and articles sett downe by us, Robert, Earle of Essex, and Charles, Lord Howard, Lord High Admirall of England, Generalles of her Majesty’s forces imployed in this action both by sea and land, to be observed by every captaine and chief officer of the Navie’.

ff. 110v-101r Argument that the statement that the Emperor Arcadius was excommunicated by Pope Innocent I after the death of St. John Chrysostom is historically impossible: ‘Philonomi cuiusdam ad probandum excommunicationem Arcadii Imperatoris ab Innicentio Papa esse falsam, fictitiam, impossibilem’. Latin.

f. [vi] recto Sir Edward Hoby: Unattributed verses. ‘Nobilium spectas clypeos hinc inde micantes’ (1587), hexameter; ‘Siccine profundis sumptus, et semisepultos’ (1593), elegiacs. Latin.