Lansdowne MS 841/73

73. Mr. E. Umfreville to Mr. West, giving an account of a curious piece of secret history which he had discovered in a note book of Chief Justice Hyde, purchased by him at the Duke of Chandos's sale, the substance of which was, that an information had been exhibited in the Star-chamber by the Attorney-general against the Earls of Bedford, Clare, and Somerset, Sir Robert Cotton and Selden, for publishing a scandalous libel. That after the case had been opened by the Attorney-general, the Lord Keeper Coventry signified to the Court that the King out if his grace and for joy of the birth of a Prince [Charles, born the May before] would pardon the defendants and not proceed to any sentence of the cause. But on motion by the Attorney-general that Sir Rob. Cotton had in his library, records, evidences, ledger-books, original letters and instruments of State belonging to the King, (and to prove it he showed a copy of the pardon which Sir Robert had obtained from K. James, for embezzling records, and other offences) it therefore was thought lawful and ordered, that a commission should be awarded to certain commissioners, who in the presence of Sir Robert Cotton might search his library, and seize to the King's use such records and other instruments as belonged to the King. Feb. 4, 1747. fo. 79. Mr. Umfreville adds that he possessed two copies of the information, with Sir Robert's brief to his Counsel Sir Edw. Littleton, whose papers Mr. Umfreville also bought at the same sale. The above commission was never executed, and Sir Robert Cotton died in the May following. This may serve as a supplemental account to what is stated on the same subject in the new edition of the Biographia Britannica by Dr. Kippis.