Lansdowne MS 265

folio.

A Volume intitled "The coppie of a letter written by a Master of Arts in Cambridge to his freind in London, concerning some talke passed of late betweene two worshipfull and grave men about the present estate and some proceedings of the Earle of Leicester and his ffrinds in England. Conceaved, spoaken, and published with most earnest protestacions of all dutifull good will and affeccion towardes Her most excellent Ma^tie and the realme for whose good only it is made common to many. Anno Domini 1616." The date is that of the transcript, the work having been printed in 1584. It is in fact the well known libel against the Earl of Leicester, sometimes called "Father Parsons's green coat," but more generally, "Leicester's Commonwealth." The present manuscript has some variations from the printed copies that may be deserving of attention. At the end is "A godlie and profitable meditation out of the 20^th of Job."