/ 
 
 CATALOGUE 
 
 OF 
 
 MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 AND OTHER OBJECTS 
 
 IN THE 
 
 MUSEUM 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, 
 
 WITH 
 
 BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL NOTES. 
 
 BY 
 
 fim H. C. MAXWELL LYTE, K.C.B. 
 
 DEPUTY KEEPER OF THE RECORDS. 
 
 i0 
 
 FOURTH EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, 
 
 BY MACKIE & CO LD., 2, Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, E.C, 
 
 And to be purchased, either directly or tlirough anv Bookseller, from 
 
 WYMAN AND SONS, L>D., Fetter Lane. E.G., or 
 
 OLIVER AND BOYD, Twkkddalk ChUrt, jidinhuhoh; or 
 
 E. fONSONBV, U6, Grafton Street, Dl-bi.in. 
 
 1907.
 
 
 ' \A / o 4-7 
 
 ^ CONTENTS 
 
 < -^ 
 
 S 
 
 "* Windows ^ . .. . 1 
 
 h 
 D 
 
 C Monuments 6 
 
 h 
 
 (J] 
 
 < 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ Cases A to D (1-48) 9 
 
 Central Table 23 
 
 Cases E to M (49-127) ----- .24 
 
 Pedestal (1-109) 46 
 
 Frames on the Walls (N to FF) - - - - 88 
 
 Miscellaneous Objects (I to XXVI) - - - - 93 
 
 211988
 
 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 The Museum of the Public Record Office occupies the site of 
 a building known originally as the Chapel of the House of the 
 Converts, and afterwards as the Chapel of the Eolls. 
 
 The House of the Converts was founded by Henry III. in 
 1232, for the reception of Jews who had embraced the Christian 
 faith, and the Chapel attached to it was begun in the following 
 year. 
 
 After the expulsion of the Jews from England by Edward I., 
 the office of Keeper of the House of the Converts became almost 
 a sinecure, and it was usually given to the Clerk of Chancery 
 whose duty it was to keep the rolls and other records of that 
 department of the Government. In 1877, Edward III. definitely 
 assigned the House of the Converts to the Keeper of the Rolls 
 of Chancery and his successors, and it remained in their 
 possession until 1837, when it was surrendered to the Crown. 
 
 All the early Keepers of the Rolls of Chancery were 
 ecclesiastics, but they gradually acquired an equitable jurisdic- 
 tion as assistants to the Lord Chancellor, and by a silent 
 change made in the reign of Henry VIIL, the office of Keeper, 
 or Master, of the Rolls became tenable only by a lawyer. The 
 A. 1350. Wt. 4314. 500.-17/5/07. M. a
 
 11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 actual custody of the records of the Chancery was moreover 
 delegated to others. After the absorption of the Master of the 
 Rolls into the judicial body, the chapel attached to his official 
 residence became, not only a place of worship for him and 
 his family, the masters, clerks, and. registrars of the Court of 
 Chancery, but also a repository of records, and a meeting- 
 place for the discharge or the foreclosure of mortgages. The 
 preacher having no cure of souls, was practically a domestic 
 chaplain. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the fabric of the chapel underwent many 
 changes. The mediaeval chancel was destroyed in the seven- 
 teenth century, possibly by the Great Fire of London. Some 
 of the windows of the nave were blocked up, and the remainder 
 were denuded of their tracery. The upper parts of the walls 
 were rebuilt in brick, and a new roof was put on. Alterations 
 are known to have been made about 1720, and again about 
 1784, when the rubble walls were coated with a thin layer of 
 flints, to protect them from the weather. Galleries and presses 
 were from time to time put up within for the accommodation 
 of the records of Chancery, the very seats for the congregation 
 being made in the form of lockers. 
 
 Soon after the completion of the first block of the adjacent 
 Public Record Office, in 1856, most of the documents stored in the 
 Rolls Chapel were transferred thither. The interior was there- 
 upon entirely remodelled, and a new ceiling of lath and plaster 
 was put up, in imitation of late Gothic vaulting. Altogether, the 
 result of successive repairs and alterations was that, a few years
 
 INTRODUCTION. Ul 
 
 ago, there was not a particle of mediaeval work visible within 
 or without the Chapel of the Rolls.*' 
 
 When the Public Record Office was being extended in 1895 
 it was decided to pull down the crumbling walls of the Chapel, 
 but to preserve its memory by building a museum of equal size 
 upon its site, incorporating all such remains of it as had 
 any historical or artistic value. Three large monuments Avere 
 accordingly re-erected, two of them in their former positions. 
 Three memorial tablets were re-affixed to the walls, and seven 
 panels of heraldic glass were transferred into the new windows. 
 Such vaults below the Chapel as contained human remains were 
 enclosed in concrete. Some fragments of a fine chancel arch 
 of the thirteenth century, discovered during the demolition of 
 the east wall, were put together and affixed to a neighbouring 
 wall. 
 
 The Museum of the Public Record Office is, like the Chapel 
 which it has superseded, a repository of records, but not 
 exclusively of records of the Chancery. As late as the beginning 
 of the reign of Queen Victoria, the national archives were 
 scattered in some sixty different places, such as the Tower of 
 London, the Chapel of the Rolls, the Chapter House and the 
 Chapel of the Pyx at Westminster, and the State Paper Office ; 
 but an Act passed in 1838 had for its object the eventual 
 concentration of them in one building, under one management. 
 
 * A historical and architectural account of the Rolls Chapel, with plans, 
 &c., is given in the appendix to the Fifty-seventh Annual Keport of the 
 Deputy Keeper of the Records. (1896.)
 
 iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Public Record Office now contains — 
 
 The records, judicial, administrative, and financial, of the 
 Chancery and the Exchequer. 
 
 The records of the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, 
 Admiralty, Star Chamber, Requests, Wards and Liveries, 
 Delegates, High Commission, and Marshalsea. 
 
 The records of the Principality of Wales, of the Palatinates 
 of Chester, Durham, and Lancaster, and of the Duchy of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 The records of various Departments of State, such as 
 the Treasury, the Home Office, the Foreign Office, the 
 Colonial Office, the War Office, the Admiralty, the Audit 
 Office, the Customs, the Lord Chamberlain's Office, 
 the Charity Commission, the Patent Office, and the 
 Ecclesiastical Commission. 
 
 The distinctive feature of this vast collection of documents 
 is that they are of a more or less official character. The great 
 majority of them have remained in official custody ever since 
 they were written ; others are addressed to officers of state ; 
 others relate to property with which the Crown or a court of 
 law has at some time been concerned. 
 
 Search rooms are provided for the use of persons who have 
 occasion to consult the Public Records. 
 
 The documents selected on account of their historical or 
 artistic interest for exhibition in the Museum, range in date 
 from Domesday Book to the Coronation Roll of Queen Victoria.
 
 WINDOWS. 
 
 The east window of the Museum is filled with modern 
 heraldic glass, commemorative of successive Keepers, or Masters, 
 of the Rolls, from the later part of the reign of Edward III. 
 as follows : — 
 
 1371. William de Burstall. 
 
 1881. John de Waltham (afterwards Bishop of Sahsbury). 
 
 1386. John de Burton. 
 
 1394. John Scarle. 
 
 1397. Thomas Stanley. 
 
 1402. Nicholas Bubwith (afterwards Bishop of Bath and 
 
 Wells). 
 
 1405. John Wakeryng (afterwards Bishop of Norwich). 
 
 1415. Simon Gaunstede. 
 
 1423. John Frank. 
 
 1438. John Stopynden. 
 
 1447. Thomas Kirkeby. 
 
 1461. Piobert Kirkeham. 
 
 1471. William Morland. 
 
 1471. John Alcock (afterwards Bishop of Ely). 
 
 1472. John Morton (afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 
 and Cardinal). 
 1479. Bobert Morton (afterwards Bisliop of Worcester). 
 1483. Thomas Barowe.
 
 WINDOWS. 
 
 1487. David Williams. 
 
 1492. John Blythe (afterwards Bishop of Salisbury). 
 
 1494. William Warham (afterwards x\rchbishop of Canter- 
 bury). 
 
 1502. William Barons (afterwards Bishop of London). 
 
 1504. Christopher Bainbrigg (afterwards Archbishop of 
 York, and Cardinal). 
 
 1508. John Yong. 
 
 1516. Cuthbert Tunstall (afterwards Bishop of Durham). 
 
 1522. John Clerk (afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells). 
 
 1528. Thomas Hanniball. 
 
 1527. John Taylor. 
 
 1534. Thomas Crumwell (afterwards Earl of Essex, and 
 K.G.). 
 
 1586. Christopher Hales, knight. 
 
 1541. Eobert Southwell, knight. 
 
 1550. John Beaumont. 
 
 1552. Eobert Bowes, knight. 
 
 1558. Nicholas Hare, knight. 
 
 1557. William Cordell, knight. 
 
 1581. Gill)ert Gerard, knight. 
 
 1594. Thomas Egerton, knight (afterwards Viscount 
 Brackley). 
 
 1608. Edward, Baron Bruce of Kinloss. 
 
 1611. Edward Phelips, knight. 
 
 1614. Julius Cffisar, knight. 
 
 1686. Dudley Digges, knight.
 
 iriXDOWS. 3 
 
 The series is continued in the west window, as follows : — 
 
 1639. Charles Caesar, knight. 
 
 1643. John Colepeper, knight (afterwards Baron Cole- 
 
 peper) . 
 
 1643. William Lenthall. 
 
 1660. Harbottle Grimston, baronet, 
 
 1685. John Churchill, knight. 
 1685 and 1693. John Trevor, knight. 
 
 1689. Henry Powle. 
 
 1717. Joseph -Jekyll, knight. 
 
 1738. John Verney. 
 
 1741. William Fortescue. 
 
 1750. John Strange, knight. 
 
 1754. Thomas Clarke, knight. 
 
 1764. Thomas Sewell, knight. 
 
 1784. Lloyd Kenyon, knight (afterwards Lord Kenyon). 
 
 1788. Richard Pepper Arden, knight (afterwards Baron 
 
 Alvanley). 
 
 1801. William Grant, knight. 
 
 1818. Thomas Plumer, knight. 
 
 1824. Robert, Baron Gifford. 
 
 1826. John Singleton Copley, knight (afterwards Baron 
 
 Lyndhurst). 
 
 1827. John Leach, knight. 
 
 1834. Charles Christopher Pepys, knight (afterwards Earl 
 
 of Cottenham). 
 1836. Henry, Baron Langdale. 
 1851. John, Baron Romilly. 
 1873. George Jessel, knight.
 
 •4 WINDOWS. 
 
 1883. William Baliol, Baron Esher (afterwards Viscount 
 
 Esher). 
 1897. Nathaniel Lindley, knight (afterwards Baron 
 
 Lindley) . 
 1900. Richard Everard, Baron Alverstone, G.C.M.G, 
 
 1900. Archibald Levin Smith, knight. 
 
 1901. Richard Henn Collins, knight (afterwards Baron 
 
 Collins). 
 1907. Herbert H. Cozens-Hardy, knight. 
 
 This window also contains the arms of the Deputy Keepers 
 of the Records from the establishment of the ofifice, as 
 folloAvs : — 
 
 1838. Francis Palgrave, K.H. 
 
 1861. Thomas Duifus Hardy, knight. 
 
 1878. William Hardy, knight. 
 
 1886. Henry C. Maxwell Lyte, K.C.B. 
 
 The eastern window on the south side contains the arms, in 
 modern glass, of four eminent persons who occui)ied the office 
 of Preacher at the Rolls : — 
 
 Edward Stillingtieet, afterwards Bishop of Worcester. 
 Gilbert Burnet, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury. 
 Francis Atterbury, afterwards Bishop of Rochester. 
 Joseph Butler, afterwards Bishop of Durham.
 
 WINDOWS. 5 
 
 The central window contains four panels of fine heraldic 
 glass, executed in 1611 : — 
 
 Henry, eldest son of King James, Prince of Wales, Duke of 
 
 Cornwall, and Earl of Chester. 
 Thomas, Baron Ellesmere, Chancellor of England, sometime 
 
 Master of the Rolls. 
 Sir Robert Ceeill, Earl of Salisbury, Viscount Cranborne, 
 
 Baron Ceeill, Lord High Treasurer of England, Principal 
 
 Secretary of State, Master of the Court of Wards and 
 
 Liveries, K.G. 
 Edward Phellips, knight, serjeant-at-law. Speaker of the 
 
 House of Commons for seven years, Master of the Rolls, 
 
 and Chancellor of Henry, Prince of Wales. 
 
 The western window on the south side contains four panels of 
 heraldic glass, the first of them modern, the other tin-ee original. 
 
 King George L 
 
 Harbottle Grimston, baronet, Speaker of the House of 
 
 Commons, Master of the Rolls, 1660. 
 John Trevor, Master of the Rolls — with an enlarged copy 
 
 of his signature. 
 Henry Powle, Master of the Rolls, 1691 — with his monogram.
 
 MONUMENTS. 
 
 Immediately to the left of the steps leading into the Miisemii 
 is the monument set up in memory of Richard Alington of 
 Lincoln's Inn, who died 23rd November 1561. It is mainly of 
 alabaster, delicatelj^ carved, with two columns of black marble 
 and various inlays, the whole resting on a base of Purbeck 
 marble. The deceased and his wife Jane, who survived until 
 1603, are represented kneeling towards each other in niches 
 with round heads. Small figures of their three daughters are 
 given in low relief on a tablet. This monument formerly stood 
 against the south wall of the Rolls Chapel, near the east end, 
 but there is reason to doubt whether that was its original 
 position. The burial of Richard Alington in this chapel is due 
 to the fact that his wife was sister of Sir William Cordell, 
 Master of the Rolls, whom he named as one of his executors. 
 
 The next monument is that of Edward, Lord Bruce of Kinloss, 
 Master of the Rolls, who died 14th January 1611. It is mainly 
 of alabaster, which in places shows traces of the original 
 painting and gilding. The deceased is represented in a furred 
 robe in a recumbent position, his head supported by his right 
 arm, which rests upon a cushion. Below are four detached 
 figures kneeling on cushions. The smaller of those on the left is 
 that of Christian, daughter of the deceased, so called because 
 born on Christmas Day, 1596. She was married in the Rolls 
 Chapel to William Cavendish, afterwards Earl of Devonshire, on 
 10th April 1608, being then "a pretty red-headed wench" of
 
 MONUMENTS. 7 
 
 less than thirteen. The other female figure is presumably that 
 of Magdalen, Lady Bruce of Kinloss, who survived her husband 
 and married again. The figure of a young man in armour is 
 that of Sir Edward Bruce, K.B., who succeeded his father in the 
 title, and was killed, two years later, by Sir Edward Sackville, 
 in a duel fought near Bergen-op-Zoom. The smaller male 
 figure is that of Thomas Bruce, who liecame third Lord Bruce 
 of Kinloss, and was created Earl of Elgin. 
 
 The third large monument in the Museum is of exceptional 
 beauty and interest. It is that of Dr. John Yong, Master of the 
 Rolls, and Dean of York, who died 25th April 1516. The 
 terra-eotta efiigy of the deceased, attired in a red gown with 
 tippet and hood and a square cap, lies on the top of a stone 
 sarcophagus. In the lunette above are heads of Christ and 
 two cherubs, likewise in terra cotta. The type of the Christ is 
 clearly Florentine, but the cherubs, very inferior in design, appear 
 to be additions or restorations of the seventeenth century when 
 the monument was probably removed to its present position. 
 The whole recess and the moulding round it were formerly 
 coloured. From the likeness of the effigy of Dr. Yong to that of 
 Henry VII. in Westminster Abbey, and the general character 
 of the monument, the work has long been attributed to Pietro 
 Torrigiano. Any doubt on the subject has been set at rest l)y the 
 discovery, in 1895, that the back of the sarcophagus and that 
 of one of the stones in the lunette bore mutilated carvings of 
 plumed angels and Tudor roses exactly corresponding with some 
 in the Chapel of Henry VII. at Westminster. These having 
 l)een removed, are now exhibited close to the monument. A 
 replica, or model, of the head of Christ is in the Wallace 
 Collection at Hertford House.
 
 8 MONUMENTS. 
 
 Above the monument of Dr. Yong is a tablet of white and 
 coloured marl)les, in memory of William Fortescue. IVIaster of the 
 Rolls, who died 16th November 1749, and was buried in the 
 Chapel. 
 
 On the south wall, between the windows, are two tablets, one 
 in memory of Lord Gifford, Master of the Rolls, who died in 1826, 
 and Lady Gifford, who died in 1857 ; the other in memory of 
 Sir Thomas Sewell, IMaster of the Rolls, and his widow and child. 
 
 The mar})le statue of George I. in the costume of an ancient 
 Roman, standing in the south-western corner of the ]\[useum, 
 formerly occupied a niche over the judicial bench of the court 
 in Rolls House, now demolished. On its present pedestal is a 
 leaden tablet from the foundation stone of that building, bearing 
 the royal arms, and inscribed — ''G. R. 1717." 
 
 The marble bust of Lord Romilly, Master of the Rolls, was 
 formerly in the Literary Search Room.
 
 CASE A. 
 
 1. Writ of King William II. confirming an exchange of 
 lands at Ingolvesmera (Ingoldmells, co. Lincoln) and Witchona 
 between Ur[se] de Abet[ot] and Robert de Laceio. — Dated at 
 Brichestoch (Brigstock). [a.d. 1095-1100.] Latin. Fragment 
 of Great Seal appended. 
 
 2. Charter of King William II. granting to the church of 
 St. Martin, Battle, at the dedication thereof, for the souls of his 
 father, his mother, and all his relations who fell there in the 
 battle, the churches of Saford (Sampford, co. Essex), Exelingis 
 (Exning, co. Suffolk), Trilauue (Thurlow, co. Suffolk), Middel- 
 hala (Mildenhall, co. Suffolk), Nortuna (co. Suffolk), Eilesham 
 (Aylsham, co. Norfolk), Mendlesham (co. Suffolk), Bramford 
 (CO. Suffolk), and Brantham (co. Suffolk). [11 February 1094.] 
 Latin. Fragment of Great Seal appended. 
 
 Fndorsed : — " Willelmus Secundus de aecclesiis." 
 
 The phraseology of this charter is abnormal, and the name of the 
 Bishop of Coutances, one of the witnesses, is given as Roger instead 
 of Ralph. On the other hand, the endorsement cannot be later than 
 the middle of the 12th century, and the seal appears to be genuine. 
 
 3. Charter of King Henry I. confirming the establishment 
 of the regular canons of Christ Church, London, by his wife. 
 Queen Maud, and their privileges. — Dated at Westminster. 
 [Circa a.d. 1109.] Latin. Great Seal appended. 
 
 4. Writ of King Stephen, restoring to Miles of Gloucester 
 
 the land of Edric son of Chetel, previously granted to Miles's 
 
 father, Walter, by King Henry. — Dated at Ferliam (Fareham). 
 
 [a.d. 1136.] Latin. Great Seal appended. 
 
 B
 
 10 CASE A. 
 
 5. Charter of Maud the Empress, daughter of King Henry 
 and Lady of the EngHsh, granting licence to Miles, Earl of 
 Hereford, and his heirs to hold the castle and honour of 
 Abergaveny of Brian son of the Count [of Brittany] and 
 Maud de Walengeford, his wife, and their heirs by the service 
 of three knights. — Dated at Oxford, [a.d. 1141-1142.] Latin. 
 Great Seal appended. 
 
 6. Notification by Eustace, son of the King of England 
 [Stephen], and Count of Boulogne, that the church of Holy 
 Trinity, London, is under his protection, given at the request of 
 Maud the Queen, his mother, and for the good of her soul 
 and the souls of M[ary] the Countess, his sister, and Baldwin 
 his brother, who lie buried therein. — Dated at St. Albans, [a.d. 
 1151-1152.] Latin. Fragment of equestrian seal appended. 
 
 7. Charter of King Henry II. confirming to Payn de Monte 
 Dublelli (Mondoubleau) all the land in England which belonged 
 to his grandfather Patrick de Cadurcis. — Dated at Northampton. 
 [a.d. 1155.] Latin. Great Seal appended ivitli cords oj 
 variegated silk. 
 
 The seal appended to this document is one of the few examples 
 extant of the tirst seal of Henry II. There is reason to believe that 
 the grantee was known also as Payn de Chaworth. 
 
 8. Charter of King Henry II. confirming the privileges of 
 the regular canons of Christ Church, London. — Dated at London. 
 [a.d. 1155.] Latin. Great Seal appended, in a hag of dark 
 worsted. 
 
 The seal appended to this document is an example of the second 
 seal of Henry II. Consequently, if the dates ascribed to this charter 
 and to No. 7 are correct, the change of design must have been made 
 in 1155.
 
 CASE A. 11 
 
 9. Writ of King Henry II. confirming to the canons of 
 Holy Trinity, London, 25?. by weight yearly out of the 
 rents of the city of Exeter, for the good of the souls of 
 his grandparents King Henry and Queen Maud, the original 
 grantors. — Dated at London, [a.d. 1155.] Latin. Great 
 Seal appended with hempen cords. 
 
 261. by weight were reckoned as equivalent to 25/. 12s. Gd. by tale, 
 the difference being an allowance for depreciation of coins by wear. 
 
 10. Confirmation by Thomas [commonly called Beket], Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, to the canons of Holy Trinity, London, of 
 the church of St. Mary, Bixle (co. Kent), granted to them by 
 William and confirmed to them by Theobald, his predecessors, 
 with grant to them to have ten beasts in his demesne herbage 
 and ten hogs in his wood. [a.d. 1162-1170.] Latin. Frar/- 
 ment of seal with counter-seal appended, in a hag of gold 
 brocade. 
 
 Endorsed : — " Sanctus Thomas archiepiscopus, de eeclesia 
 de Bixle," &c. 
 
 The counter-seal, which is unique, shows the impress of an ancient 
 Roman intaglio, with the legend : — " SigilluraTome Lund'." Although 
 the father of this famous archbishop was known as Gilbert Beket, his 
 own usual name was Thomas of London. 
 
 11. Charter of King Richard I. confirming a partition of 
 
 the inheritance of William de Say between his daughters, 
 
 Beatrice wife of Geoffrey son of Peter (Fitz-piers) and Maud 
 
 wife of William de Bochland. — Dated by the hand of Eustace 
 
 Bishop of Ely, at the fair castle of Eoche d'Andelys (Chateau 
 
 Gaillard), 15 June, in the 9th year of his reign, [a.d. 1198.] 
 
 Latin. Great Seal appended with cords of silk. 
 
 The epithet "fair" prefixed to the normal description of Chateau 
 Gaillard recalls the saying about it attributed to the King:— "See 
 how fair is my daughter, a year old,"
 
 12 CASE A. 
 
 12. Agreement between King John of the one part, and Eobert 
 Fitz Walter, marshal of the army of God and of Holy Church in 
 England, six earls and six barons named, and other earls, barons, 
 and free men of the whole realm, of the other part. The earls, 
 barons, and others shall hold the City of London, saving the royal 
 revenues, and the Archbishop of Canterbury shall hold the 
 Tower of London, saving the liberties of the City, until the 
 feast of the Assumption in the 17th year of the reign. In the 
 meanwhile, oaths shall be taken throughout England to twenty- 
 five barons, as is contained in the Charter for the liberties and 
 security of the realm, and all things shall be done according to 
 the said charter. Otherwise the City and the Tower shall be 
 held as above, until all the said things shall be done. [15-25 
 •June 1215.] Latin. Indented. Slits for the ta(js of thirteen seals. 
 
 This agreement is entered upon the contemporary Close Roll 
 (17 John, m. 27d). The exact date is not specified, but it must 
 have been between the issue of the Great Charter at Runnymede 
 and the King's departure from Windsor. The indentation at the 
 head of the parchment shows that a counterpart of the agreement, 
 originally written on the same skin, and doubtless authenticated by 
 the Great Seal, must have been given to the Barons. None of the 
 thirteen persons who thus entered into ao ag-reement with the King 
 are mentioned amcmg those upon whose advice he granted the Great 
 Charter. 
 
 Although the terms of the Great Charter were made known by the 
 despatch of sealed copies to different parts of the country, it was not 
 enrolled in Chancery during the reign of John. Four of the original 
 copies, however, remain. 
 
 13. Charter of William, King of Scots, addressed to all his 
 men — French, English, Scots, and Galwegians, whereby he 
 restores to Robert de Brus the land which his father and he 
 held in Anandale, subject to certain specified conditions. — Dated 
 at Locmaban. [a.d. 1166.] Latin. Great Seal of Scotland 
 apj^ended by a flat tag of checked silk.
 
 CASE A. 13 
 
 14. Charter of King Henry III. granting to Ralph son of 
 Nicholas the manor of Dunham (co. Nottingham), to be held by 
 him and his heirs as freely as Eeginald de Dammartin, Comit of 
 Boulogne, held the same. — Dated by the hand of Ralph, Bishop 
 of Chichester, Chancellor, at Westminster, 22 July, in the 
 11th year of his reign. [a.d. 1227.] Latin. Great Seal 
 appended with cords of silk. 
 
 15. Letter from Raymond son of Raymond, Duke of Nar- 
 bonne, Count of Toulouse and Marquis of Provence, to Henry 
 III. King of England, &c., praying him to enforce payment of 
 3 marks, and of one pound in money of Tours for three ship-loads 
 of salt sold by R. de Carof to David lo Lenie draper of London. 
 [a.d. 1216-1222.] Latin. 
 
 This docameat ia remarkable as beiag oae of the earliest extant 
 examples of the use of paper ia Europe. 
 
 16. Bull of Pope Innocent III. directed to the prelates, 
 nobles, and people of Ireland, commanding them to continue 
 sincerely faithful to John, King of the English, and his heirs, 
 he having ceded his realm to the Roman Church. — Dated at 
 the Lateran, 5 Kal. Nov. in the 16th year of his pontificate. 
 [a.d. 1213.] Latin. Leaden bulla appended with hempen 
 cords. 
 
 17. " Star" of Aaron de la Rye with regard to the transfer 
 of two bonds to Sir Adam de Stratton. 10 January 1268. 
 Hebrew. Signed. 
 
 The word *' Sir " is not translated into Hebrew, but represented by 
 Hebrew letters, which give an approximately similar sound.
 
 14 CASE A. 
 
 18. Charter of King Henry III. confirming to the prior 
 and canons of Holy Trinity, London, various privileges and 
 donations. — Dated by the hand of Ealph, Bishop of Chichester, 
 Chancellor, at Westminster, 8 February, in the 11th year of 
 the reign, [a.d. 1227.] Latin. Great Seal appended in a bag 
 of variegated damask. 
 
 19. Writ of Eichard, Earl of Cornwall, to his bailiffs of 
 Exeter, ordering them to pay 25/. 12s. &d. yearly to the canons 
 of Holy Trinity, London, as of old, and according to the charters 
 of several Kings of England. — Dated at Henley, 16 February 
 1266. Latin. Heraldic seal appended. 
 
 See No. 9 above. 
 
 20. Letter from Edward, eldest son of King Henry IIL 
 to the Archbishop of York, Roger de Mortimer and Robert 
 Burnell, ordering them to pay the debts which he has con- 
 tracted in Palestine, for which the Masters and Convents of the 
 Hospital and the Temple have become security, so that his 
 honour may be preserved unimpaired ; and to give credence to 
 his messenger, Sir Robert de Ufford. — Dated at Acre, 10 July 
 in the 56th year of his father's reign, [a.d. 1272.] Latin. Seal 
 appended. 
 
 21. Seal of Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham, [a.d. 1283- 
 1311.] 
 
 Tliis shows the mark of the stud used for steadying the matrix
 
 15 
 CASE B. 
 
 22. Treaty between Guy, Count of Flanders, and Edward I. 
 King of England, for an alliance, offensive and defensive, 
 against Philip, King of France, made with the consent of the 
 Count's five sons, — Dated at Wynendale, 7 January 1296[-7]. 
 French. Four equestrian seals appended, eyelet hole for a fifth, 
 and cord for a sixtli. 
 
 23. Letters patent of King Edward III. reciting a fine 
 made in the King's Court at Westminster in the second year of 
 King Richard, between the Prioress and Convent of Wykes and 
 William son of Robert and Helewisia his wife, concerning the 
 advowson of the church of Billeston [co. Suftblk]. — Dated at 
 Westminster, 10 July, in the 37th year of his reign, [a.d. 13G3.] 
 Latin. Great Seal appended in a hag oj quilted damask. 
 
 24. Letters patent of Florence, Count of Holland, Robert de 
 Brus, Lord of Annandale, John de Baillol, lord of Gallow^ay, 
 John de Hastinges, lord of Bergaveny, John Comyn, lord of 
 Badenough, Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of the March, John de 
 Vescy for his father, Nicholas de Soules, and William de 
 Ros, claimants of the throne of Scotland, all promising to 
 abide by the decision of their right thereto by Edward I., 
 King of England, " the sovereign lord of the land." — Dated at 
 Norham, Tuesday after Ascension Day [5 June], 1291, French. 
 Eight seals appended hy cords of red and green silk. Eyelet Itole 
 for a ninth cord. 
 
 The seal of the Couat of Holland is not appended either to this 
 document or to another letter from the same persons, dated on the 
 following day, and also preserved in the Tublie Record Office, inas- 
 much as he was not at Norham with the other claimants.
 
 16 CASE B. 
 
 25. Letters patent of John [Balliol], King of Scots, notify- 
 ing that he has sworn fealty to his liege lord Edward I., 
 King of England, sovereign lord of Scotland, at Norham on the 
 feast of St. Edmund the King [20 November] 1292, in the 
 presence of the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow and other 
 Scotch lords specified. — Dated at Newcastle on Tyne, 24 December 
 1292. French. Great Seal appended. 
 
 26. Letters patent of liing Edward XL granting licence to 
 Richard Briez to convey land at Gernfeld (Yarnfield, co. 
 Somerset) to the prior and hospital of Maydenbradele. — Dated 
 at Clarendon, 23 March in the 10th year of his reign, [a.d. 
 1317.] Latin. Great Seal appended. 
 
 27. Seal of David II. King of Scots, [a.d. 1329-1346.] 
 
 This seal differs considerably from that which David II. used after 
 his release from captivity in 1367. 
 
 28. Seal of Robert III. King of Scots, [a.d. 1390-1406.] 
 
 29. Note of various vestments, ornaments, &c. bequeathed 
 to the cathedral church of Canterbury by Edward, Prince of 
 Wales, [a.d. 1376?] French. Fragment of his seal. 
 
 30. Writ of King Edward I. ordering the Sheriff of Oxford 
 to cause an enquiry to be made, upon the oaths of trustworthy 
 Christians and Jews, with regard to the value of the goods of 
 Isaac de Caune and Genta his wife, Jews of Oxford. — Dated 
 at Chester, 18 July in the 5th year of his reign, [a.d. 1277.] 
 
 Return thereto made upon the oaths of six Christians and 
 six Jews. Latin. Six signatures in Hebrew.
 
 CASE B. 17 
 
 31. Charter of King Edward I. reciting and confirming a 
 charter of Robert Burnel, Bishop of Bath and Wells, granting 
 land at Borham and Little Waltham to the Abbot and Convent 
 of Holy Cross, Waltham. — Dated at Westminster, 5 November, 
 in the 9th year of his reign, [a.d. 1'281.] Latin. Great Seal 
 aj>p(')idcd in a hag of white linen painted red outside with a 
 lieraldic lion in silver witJi some traces of gold. 
 
 32. Charter of King Edward III. granting to William de 
 Clynton, Earl of Huntingdon, and Juliana his wife, and her 
 heirs, a yearly fair at Essheteford (Ashford, co. Kent).' — Dated 
 at Westminster, 7 April in the 22nd year of his reign, [a.d. 
 1348.] Latin. Great Seal appe)ided. 
 
 The initial letter of the King's name has been left blank for 
 ornamentation never supplied. 
 
 33. Leaden hulUe of Kings of Castile and Leon. 
 
 a. Peter I. [a.d. 1351-1369.] 
 
 b. John n. [a.d. 1406-1454.] 
 
 34. Letters patent of John IL King of France, reciting the 
 17th article of the treaty made on the 8th of May at Bretigny, 
 between him and the King of England, with regard to the 
 number of hostages to be given by him, and swearing to 
 execute the same. — Dated at Calais, 24 October 1360. French. 
 Great Seal of B' ranee appended. 
 
 The King of France, who was taken prisoner at the battle of 
 Poitiers in September 1356, was still in captivity at Calais when he 
 ratified the treaty of Bretigny. A Latin memorandum at the head of 
 these letters patent directs that tlioy should be made out in du^ilicato 
 at Boulogne, and accardiiigly, two days later, the King, being at 
 Boulogne in his own dominions, issued fresh letters patent, also 
 preserved iu the Public Record Olhce, to the same etl'ect as those.
 
 18 CASE B. 
 
 35. Letters patent of Charles, eldest son of the King of 
 France, Duke of Normandy and Dauphin of Vienne, reciting 
 and confirming letters patent of his father John, King of France, 
 dated at St. Omar, 1 November 1360, whereby lie testifies that 
 the King of England has suffered him to quit Calais in peace 
 and enter his own realm. — Dated at St. Omer, 2 November 1360. 
 French. Seal appended. 
 
 36. Letter from John de Mountgomery [to the Chancellor]. 
 Praying that John Peche, of the county of Warwick, may be 
 exempted from providing a man-at-arms or a hobler, or pajdng 
 a fine, inasmuch as he was with the King in the war in France, 
 in the company of the Earl of Huntingdon, both at the battle 
 of Cressy and at the siege of Calais [in 1346 and 1347]. — 
 Dated at Rochester, 18 August. French.
 
 19 
 
 CASE C. 
 
 37. Register of the charters and writings of the monastery 
 of St. Mary, Furness, compiled by WiUiam Dalton, Abbot 
 thereof, a.d. 1412. Latin. Illuminated. 
 
 The arms in the initial letters of the diflferent charters are those of 
 the persons by whom these charters were respectively granted. 
 
 38. Statutes made in ParHament from the 1st year of 
 Edward IV. to the 11th year of Henry VII. [a.d. 1195.] 
 French and English. Illuminated. 
 
 Additions down to the 1th year of Henry VIII. 
 
 39. The Black Book of the Exchequer, containing a perpetual 
 calendar, an almanac, drawings of the emblems of the four 
 Evangelists and of Christ, the Virgin and Child, St. Thomas of 
 Canterbury, St, Michael, and the Crucifixion, various notes and 
 verses, the treatise called " Dialogus de Scaceario,'' oaths of 
 officers and other memoranda respecting the business of the 
 Exchequer. Latin. 
 
 A considerable portion of this volume dates from the reign of 
 Henry III. The almanac was apparently made in 1239 or 1250, as 
 Easter Day occurs in it on the '27th of March. It has various inter- 
 polations, such as contemporary notes of public events, from the 
 battle of Lewes in 1264 to tliat of Flodden in 1513. 
 
 The emblems of the four Evangelists are accompanied by the initial 
 verses of their respective works, so that the volume might be used 
 for tlie administration of oaths to officers of the Exchequer when 
 required to swear on the Holy Gospels. 
 
 It is remarkable that the drawing of St. Thomas of Canterbury 
 was not erased from this volume, in pursuance of the royal 
 proclamation of 1538.
 
 20 CASE C. 
 
 40. Inquisition taken by brother Geoffrey son of Stephen, 
 baihff of the Knights Templars, of all previous grants of pro- 
 perty in England made to the Order, a.d. 1185. Latin. A 
 volume of 65 leaves of parchment, witJi an addition of the time 
 of Kiiifl JoJni on the CASth leaf, and 17 hlank leaves at the end. 
 
 This volume is remarkable for its very ancient binding. 
 
 41. Account of Kobert de Wodehous, Controller of the 
 Wardrobe. 8 Edward II. [a.d. 1314-1315.] Latin. Bound 
 in doe-skin. 
 
 42. Statutes made in Parliament from the 1st year of 
 Edward III. to the 39th year of Henry YI. [a.d. 1460. J French. 
 Illuminated. Ancient leather binding, with metal bosses. 
 
 43. The "Abbreviation' of Domesday Book. [Thirteenth 
 century.] Latin. Illuminated. 
 
 The subjects represented on the fly-leaves are taken from the Ufa of 
 Edward the Confessor. 
 
 The King charges Earl Godwin with causing the death of his 
 brother Alfred. 
 
 The Earl oifers to prove his innocence. 
 
 The King's vision of the drowning of the King of Denmark. 
 
 The King's vision of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. 
 
 The Miracle of the Eucharist. 
 
 The King gives a ring to St. John the Evangelist disguised as a 
 pilgrim.
 
 21 
 
 CASE D. 
 
 44. Roll of pleas in the Court of King's Bench at West- 
 mmster m Trmity term, 6 Henry VIII. [a.d. 1514.] Latin. 
 lUamiiiated title. 
 
 The initial P. contains a representation of the King enthroned with 
 two prelates and two courtiers standing near him. 
 
 The series of Plea Rolls in the Public Record Office extends from 
 the reign of Richaid 1. to that of Victoria. 
 
 45. Roll of pleas m the Court of Kmg's Bench at West- 
 mmster and at St. Albans in Michaelmas term, 35 Henry YIII. 
 [a.d, 1543.] Latin. llluDiinated title. 
 
 The initial P. contains a representation of the King eutlironed. 
 Michaelmas term was, in 1543, adjourned from Westminster to 
 St. Albans, on account of the pestilence raging in London. 
 
 46. Roll of pleas in the Court of King's Bench at West- 
 minster in Easter term, 3 Edward VI. [a.d. 1549.] Latin. 
 Illuminated title. 
 
 The initial P. contains a representation of the King enthroned 
 
 between a man kneeling and a man in armour carrj'ing a shield of 
 
 the arms of William Tusser, prothouotary of the Court of King's 
 
 Bench, impaling those of Smith. On a scroll above is the legend : — 
 
 "O mercyfuU God 
 
 do us not forsake, 
 
 though of thinges forbod 
 
 oft tymes parte we take 
 
 and make our hartos bendo 
 
 to leeve in thy awe. 
 
 But always defende 
 
 our king, realmo and lawe."
 
 22 CASE D. 
 
 47. Roll of pleas in the Court of Queen's Bench at West- 
 minster in Trinity term, 1 Mary. [a.d. 1554.] Latin. Illumi- 
 nated title. 
 
 The initial P. contains a representation of the Queen enthroned 
 supported by angels, with soldiers in the background. 
 
 48. Roll of pleas in the Court of King and Queen's Bench 
 at Westminster, in Easter term, 2 & 3 Philip and Mary. 
 [a.d. 1556.] Latin. Illuminated title. 
 
 The initial P. contains a lepresentatiou of the King and Queen 
 enthroned.
 
 23 
 CENTRAL TABLE. 
 
 Domesday Book — the smaller volume. A survey of the 
 counties of " Exsessa, Norfulc," and " Sudfulc." Latin. 
 
 Domesday Book — the large volume. A survey of the counties 
 of "Chenth, Sudsexe, Sudrie, Hantescire,Berrochescire,Wiltescire, 
 Dorsete, Summersete, Devenescire, Cornualge, Midelsexe, Hert- 
 fordscire, Bochinghamscire, Oxenefordscire, Glowecestrescire, 
 Wirecestrescire, Herefordseire, Grentebrigescire, Huntedunscire, 
 Bedefordscire, Northantonescire, Ledecestrescire, Warwicscire. 
 Statfordscire, Sciropescire, Cestrescire, Derbyscire, Snotingham- 
 scire, Roteland, Eurvicscire," and " Lincolescire." Latin. 
 
 These two volumes are the outcome of a general survey of England 
 ordered by William the Conqueror, for fiscal purposes, at the end of 
 1085, Royal commissioners were sent into different jjarts of the 
 country, to conduct the necessary enquiries in the county or hundred 
 courts. Their returns, arranged topographically, were forwarded to 
 Winchester, and there digested, county by county, under the names 
 of the different landowners. The smaller volume, dealing with the 
 three eastern counties, is the earlier of the two. A note at the end of 
 it states that the survey was made in 1086. The red lines drawn 
 through the names of the places surveyed, in both volumes, are 
 merely aids to the eye. The compilation was originally called " the 
 Book of Winchester," but, as early as the twelfth century, it had 
 acquired the name of " Domesday," that is to say, "the day of judge- 
 ment by metaphor," because there was no appeal from it. 
 
 Domesday Book was for some centuries isept at the palace of 
 Westminster, in the custody of the Treasurer and Chamberlains of 
 the Exchequer. It was removed from the Chapter House to the 
 Public Record Oflice in 1859. Every page has since been reprodticed 
 by photozincography. 
 
 Ancient covers of Domesday Book. 
 
 These covers are not contemporary with the MS. The smaller book 
 is known to have been bound in 1320.
 
 24 
 CASE E. 
 
 49. Book of receipts of Sir Thomas Lovell from 30 
 September, 5 Henry YII. [a.d. 1489] to 1 October 11 Henry 
 Vn. [a.d. 1495], amounting in all to 125,346/. 18s. 5^f/. Each 
 entri) attested hi) the sign-manual of the King. 
 
 Sir Thomas Lovell was Treasurer of the King's Chamber. 
 
 The care witli which Henry VII. examined each item in this book 
 and other similar books in the Public Record Office illustrates the 
 character of him given by historians. He changed his sign -manual 
 on the 25th of August 1489, but aa entry of the 27th of that month 
 (on folio 36) is attested by the earlier sign-manual. 
 
 50. Seal of St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. 
 
 51. Great Seal of King Henry VII. in a metal case. 
 
 52. Bull of Pope .Julius II. confirming the foundation of 
 Christ's College, Cambridge, by Margaret, Countess of Rich- 
 mond, mother of King Henry VII., and granting certain 
 ecclesiastical privileges thereto. — Dated at St. Peter's, Rome, 
 4 Kal. Mar. 1508. Latin. Ornamented nith scroll-work 
 shelving the arms of the Pojye {della Rovere) and the arms and 
 badges ofthejoundress. 
 
 53. Four indentures between King Henry VII. and John 
 Islip, Abbot of St. Peter's, Westminster, and the Prior and 
 Convent thereof, concerning the celebration of divine s'ervice 
 and the distribution of alms at Westminster Abbey. — Dated 
 16 July, in the 19th year of the reign, [a.d. 1504.] English. 
 Eire seeds of the Ahhot and Convent appended' in silver cases 
 enamelled with shields of arms. Bound in crimson velvet, lined 
 ivith brocade ; bosses and two clasps of silver gilt and enamelled. 
 
 There is one seal to each indenture, and a fifth appended to the 
 cord wliich unites the four indentures.
 
 CASE E. 25 
 
 54. Indenture septipartite between King Henry YII., William 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, Richard Bishop of Winchester, 
 John Islip, Abbot of St. Peter's, Westminster and the Prior 
 and Convent thereof, the Dean and Canons of St. Stephen's, 
 Westminster, the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, and the 
 Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London, concerning 
 the celebration of divine service and the distribution of alms 
 at Westminster Abbey. — Dated 16 July, in the 19th year of the 
 reign, [a.d. 1504.] Ratified by the Prior and Convent of Christ 
 Church, Canterbury, 3 August in the same year, and after- 
 wards by the Prior and Convent of St. Swithun's, Winchester. 
 English. Eight seals appended in silver cases, enamelled with 
 sliields of arms. Bonnd in crimson relret, lined irith brocade ; 
 bosses and three clasps oj silver gilt and enamelled. 
 
 55. Indenture quadripartite between King Henry VII., John 
 Islip Abbot of St. Peter's, Westminster, and the Prior and 
 Convent thereof, the Prior and Convent of the Friars Preachers 
 in London, and the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of 
 London, concerning the payments to be made by the Abbot, 
 Prior, and Convent to the Friars, and the services to l)e performed 
 by the latter. — Dated 20 November, in the 20th year of the 
 reign, [a.d. 1504.] English. Illuminated title. Bound i)i 
 purple velvet, with bosses and clasps of silver gilt.
 
 26 
 
 CASE F . 
 
 56. Ratification by Francis I. King of the French, of a 
 treaty conckided between him and Thomas [Wolsey], Cardinal 
 of St. Ceciha's, on behalf of the King of England, with regard to 
 a matrimonial alliance, a meeting between the two Kings, and 
 the conduct of the war in Italy. — Dated at Amiens, 18 August 
 1527. Latin. Illumination on the first page. Signed on the 
 last page ; — " Francoys." Coimtersigned ; — " Robertet." 
 
 The illumination shows the arms of France, and below a repre- 
 sentation of Hymen holding the hands of a young man and a maiden, 
 emblematical of the proposed marriage between Henry, Duke of 
 Orleans, son of the King of the French, and Mary, daughter of 
 Henrv VIII. 
 
 57. Ratification by Francis I. King of the French, of a 
 treaty concluded between him and Thomas [Wolsey] , Cardinal 
 of St. Cecilia's, on behalf of the King of England, with regard to 
 ecclesiastical affairs. — Dated at Amiens, 18 August 1527. Latin. 
 Illumination on the first page. Signed on the last page ; — 
 "Francoys." Countersigned; — "Robertet." Great Seal of 
 France appended witli cords of silk. 
 
 The illumination shows the arms of France and the badge of 
 Francis I. — a salamander. Above is the representation of a meeting 
 of cardinals, and other ecclesiastics, emblematical of a General 
 Council, which might be held after the release of the Pope from 
 captivity. Below is the representation of a meeting of two Kings, 
 emblematical of a meeting between Francis I. and Henry VIII, 
 which had been proposed.
 
 CASE F. 27 
 
 58. Ratification by Francis I. King of the French, of a 
 treaty conchided between him and Thomas [Wolsey] , Cardinal 
 of St. CeciHa's, on behalf of the King of England, with regard 
 to Italian affairs, and the privileges of English merchants in 
 France. — Dated at Amiens, 18 August 1527. Latin. Illu- 
 mination on the first page. Signed on the last page ; — 
 " Francoys." Countersigned ,- — " Robertet." Fragment of Great 
 Seal of France appended witli cords of silk. 
 
 The illumination shows the arms of France, and the badge of the 
 Visconti of ^lilan — a serpent devouring an infant, Below is the 
 representation of a seaport, emblematical of commerce. 
 
 59. Ratification by Francis I. King of the French, of a 
 treaty of perpetual peace with England. — Dated at Amiens, 
 18 August 1527. Latin. llluniination on the first page. 
 Signed on tlie last page ; — ^" Francoys." Countersigned ; — 
 " Robertet." 
 
 This appears to be the original, written and executed at the same 
 time as the ratification of three other treaties bearing date 18 
 August 1527. In a letter to Henry VIII. dated on the 16th of that 
 month, Wolsey states that much time is required for engrossing the 
 treaties. 
 
 The illumination on the first page of this document shows the arms 
 of France and England, and a female figure carrying a scroll 
 inscribed " Pax Eterna." 
 
 60. Duplicate of the above. Latin. Illlumination on the 
 first page. Signed on the last page; — "Francoys." Counter- 
 signed ; — " Robertet." Great Seal of France appended uith 
 cords of silk. 
 
 This also appears to be contemporary, but the illumination is more 
 elaborate, and it shows two shepherds dancing with a shepherdess, 
 emblematical of the blessings of peace.
 
 28 ^CASE F. 
 
 61. Triplicate of the above. Latin. Illumination on the first 
 pai/e. Signed on the last ])arie ,- — "Francoys," Countersigned; 
 — " Robertet." Golden bulla. 
 
 The writing of this document is quite different from that of the 
 other treaties bearing the same date, and it must have been actually 
 executed some time later. Wolsey writing to Henry VIII. from 
 Compiegne on the 5th of September 1527, states that it had been 
 arranged, for a perpetual future memorial, that the confirmation of 
 the treaty of peace should be " duplicate, the one sealed with grene 
 waxe, and thother with gold." The illumination shows a fine portrait 
 of Francis I. the arms of France, and the badge of Francis I. — 
 a salamander, with the motto " Nutrisco et extinguo." 
 
 The seal, now detached, is one of the most splendid examples of 
 French goldsmith's work of the best period. The obverse shows 
 the King seated on a throne supported by lions and attended by 
 angels, with the legend: — "Plurima servantur foedere, cuncta fide." 
 The reverse shows the arms of France surmounted by an open crown 
 and surrounded by the collar of the Order of St. Michael, with the 
 legend :—" Franciscus Primus Dei gratia Francorum rex Christianis- 
 simus." 
 
 61a. Reproduction of the golden bulla of King Henry YIII. 
 attached to his ratification of the same treaty. 
 
 The original is in the National Archives at Paris. The obverse 
 shows the King seated on a canopied throne of Renaissance design, 
 the legend setting forth his title. The reverse shows the arms of 
 France and England quarterly, surmounted by a crown and surrounded 
 by the collar of the Order of the Garter with the legend : — " Ordine 
 janguutur et porstant federe cuncta." The execution and the 
 Latinity are alike inferior to those of the bulla of the French King. 
 This reproduction was presented to the Public Record Office by the 
 Comte de Beauchamp. 
 
 62. A note book. [Early 16th century.] Bound in leather. 
 
 The figures represented on one side of the cover are those of 
 SS. John, Barbara, Catherine and Nicholas. 
 
 63. A note book. [Early 16th century.] Bound in leather.
 
 CASE F. 29 
 
 64. Copy of the Statutes of the Order of St. Michael issued 
 by Louis XI. King of France, on the 22nd of December 1476, 
 collated with the original by [Florimond] Eobertet, registrar of 
 the Order. [a.d. 1527.] French. Illumination on the first 
 page of the Statutes. 
 
 The illumination represents Louis XI. seated on a throne surrounded 
 by members of the order. 
 
 Anne de Montmorency, Grand Master of France, was on 15 
 September 15-^7 commissioned by Francis I. Kmg of France, to 
 convey to Henry VIII. the insignia of the Order of St. Michael, 
 together with the Statutes thereof, the volume here exhibited. 
 
 65. Ratification by Ferdinand and Elizabeth, King and 
 Queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, &c. of a treaty concluded in 
 London, on the 10th of July 1499, with Henry VIL King of 
 England, in view of the intended marriage between Arthur 
 Prince of Wales, and the Infanta Catherine, their daughter. — 
 Dated at Seville, 20 January 1500. Latin. Signed:— ''Eyo 
 el Rey " ; " Eyo la Reyna." Leaden hidla appended. 
 
 Elizabeth, Queen of Castile, is more generally known by the 
 equivalent name of Isabella. 
 
 66. Valuation of bishoprics, monasteries, and other ecclesi- 
 astical benefices in England and Wales, [a.d. 1535.] Latin. 
 Illmninated n-ith portraits of Henry VIIL enthroned, the 
 royal arms, dec. 
 
 This volume and another completing the valuation made in pur- 
 suance of the statute 26 Henry VIII. c. o. are frequently quoted as 
 " the King's Books."
 
 30 
 
 CASE G. 
 
 67. View of the Kirk of Field, near Edinburgh, iUustrating 
 the circumstances connected with the murder of Henry, Lord 
 Darnley. [a.d. 1567.] 
 
 This curious drawing shows the effects of the explosion upon the 
 building where Darnley slept, the positions in which his body and 
 that of Taylor, his servant, were found in a neighbouring garden, 
 with their clothes scattered, the burial of Taylor near the church, and 
 the removal of Darnley 's corpse. 
 
 Near the left-hand corner is an emblematical representation of the 
 infant prince — afterwards James VI.— uttering the prayer "Judge 
 and reveng my caus, O Lord," the words which were afterwards 
 inscribed on the banner of the lords opposed to Bothwell. 
 
 68. A drawing of two furnaces, inscribed by Lord Burghley 
 respectively: — "Old Order" and "Burchardes furnise." [a.d. 1582.] 
 
 This appears to have been made in order to illustrate two systems of 
 smelting lead in Derb}^ shire. 
 
 69. Letter from James, Marquis de Choisy, to King James I. 
 Eecommending his son, whom he is sending with the Duke of 
 Lennox. [February 1605.] French. Signed; — "Choisy." 
 Illuminated with Jigures oj Justice and Fortitude, an incorrect 
 representation oj the arms of Great Britain, dc. 
 
 70. Indenture between Queen Elizabeth and the Dean and 
 Chapter of the free chapel of St. George in Windsor Castle, 
 with regard to the maintenance of thirteen Poor Knights in 
 Windsor Castle, with statutes, orders and rules for the same 
 made by the Queen. — Dated 30 August, in the 1st year of her 
 reign, [a.d. 1559.] Englisli. Illuminations on two pages. 
 Bound in velvet. Cords of silk for capitular seal. 
 
 The counterpart, authenticated by the Great Seal, was to remain 
 with the Dean and Canons.
 
 CASE G. 31 
 
 71. Second Great Seal of Queen Elizabeth, [a.d. 1586-1603.] 
 
 72. Second Great Seal of King James I. [a.d. 1605-1625.] 
 
 73. Map of Ireland, called "Hirlandia," by John Goghe. 
 [a.d. 1567.] 
 
 Additions hy Lord Burghley. 
 
 This map not only shows towns, mountains, loughs, rivers, and the 
 like, but also gives the names of the principal local chieftains, 
 and the arms of the Earls of Kildare, Ormonde, Clancarty, Desmond, 
 Thomond, and Clanricarde, and some curious drawings of figures. 
 
 74. Eatification by Philip III. King of Castile, Leon, Aragon, 
 &c. of a treaty concluded on the 28th of August 1604 with the 
 Archduke Albert and the Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia, 
 and James, King of Great Britain. — Dated at Yalladolid, 15 
 June 1605. Latin. Signed; — " Philippus." Illuminated aith 
 the arms and a fidl-length portrait of the King, and various 
 other ornaments. Fragment of Great Seal of Spain appended.
 
 32 
 
 CASE H. 
 
 75. Roll showing the distinctive marks upon the bills 
 of swans belonging to various persons in parts of Lincoln- 
 shire and Cambridgeshire. [a.d. 1497-1504, with additions 
 dated 1515.] Among the marks represented are those of " the 
 gield of Corpus Cristi of Croyland," " the abbot of Thorney," 
 " Stephanus Stangreve, monachus de Thorney," " Dan Richard 
 Holbech, monk of Thorney," " Philippus abbas de Croyland," 
 "the iij gyldys of Croyland," " Carolus Stanefeld de Bolyng- 
 broke," "Sir Thomas Burgh," "the bayly of Croft," "the 
 parson of Toft," " W. Bedell, tresourer unto my Ladle's grace 
 the kynges moder," the parsons of Leek and Leverton, the 
 vicars of Waynflete, Frekeney, and Sybsa, " the baylly of 
 Tatyrsale," " thabbot of Revysby," and "Dan Thomas 
 Therfyld, mongke of Ramssay." 
 
 76. Letters patent of King Edward IL notifying the tenants 
 of the manor of Faxflet, co. York, that he has committed it to 
 Joan, late the wife of Alexander Comyn. — Dated under the 
 privy seal at Berwick-on-Tweed, 21 May in the 4th year of his 
 reign, [a.d. 1311.] Latin. Fragment of Privy Seal appended. 
 
 77. Acknowledgment by King Edward III. of the receipt in 
 his Chamber from Sir Hugh Tirel, warden of the castle of 
 Radenore, of UGl. 13.s. 4(7. in part payment of his arrears. — 
 Dated, under the king's seal of the Griffin, at the Tower of 
 London, 7 August, in the 15th year of his reign, [a.d. 1341.] 
 French. Grifjin Seal appended. 
 
 The Griffiti Seal was peculiar to Edward III. and was, apparently, 
 used only for documents relating to business transacted in the King's 
 Chamber.
 
 CASE H. 33 
 
 78. Letters patent of King Edward III. constituting William 
 de Mulsho, his attorney, to receive possession, in his name, of 
 certain lands in Retherhithe, Bermundeseye and West Grene- 
 wich. — Dated under the privy seal at Westminster, 22 February 
 in the 44th year of his reign, [a.d. 1370.] French. Privy 
 Seal appended. 
 
 79. Writ of Privy Seal of King Richard II. to William 
 Walworth and .John Philepot, receivers of the money for the 
 war. Ordering them to advance wages to Sir Geoffrey 
 Dargenton, who is going to Guienne with twenty men at arms 
 and twenty archers. — Dated at Westminster, 10 March in the 
 1st year of his reign, [a.d. 1378.] French. Privy Seal affixed. 
 
 80. Warrant by King Richard II. to the Bishop of London, 
 Chancellor, for the alteration of a word in certain letters patent 
 granted to Baldwin de Eadyngton, esquire, and in the transcript 
 thereof on the roll of Chancery. — Dated under the signet at 
 Eltham, 15 October [1384]. FreiicJi. Signet affixed. 
 
 This example of the signet of Kichard II. is believed to be unique. 
 It bears simply the name " Richard." The twisted ring of rush 
 surrounding the impression of the signet was apparently intended 
 for the protection of the wax. 
 
 81. Letter from King Henry VI. to the Bishop of Bath, 
 Chancellor. Asking for his advice as to the proposed appoint- 
 ment of Robert Manfeld to be victualler of Calais. — Dated under 
 the signet of the Eagle, at Eltham, 29 December [1441]. 
 Enylish . Signet of the Eagle affixed. 
 
 The signet of the Eagle was used only by Henry V. and Henry VI.
 
 34 CASE H. 
 
 82. Letter from King Henry VI. to the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, Concerning an arbitration with regard to the 
 church of Lancaster. — Dated under the signet at Shene, 
 20 November. English. Signet affixed. 
 
 This example of the signet of Henry VI. is believed to be unique. 
 
 83. Warrant by the King and Queen, PhiUp and Mary, for 
 the payment of 1,000/. to Sir Eichard Frestone, cofferer of the 
 household. — Dated under the signet at Westminster, 25 March, 
 in the 3rd and 4th years of their reigns, [a.d. 1557.] English. 
 Signed ; — " Marye the Queue." Signet ajixed. 
 
 84. Warrant by King Edward III. to Master John de Offord, 
 
 Dean of Lincohi, Chancellor, for the issue of letters patent in 
 
 favour of Nicholas Gower. — Dated, under the seal of the Griffon, 
 
 13 February, in the 22nd year of his reign. [a.d. 1348.] 
 
 Griffin Seal affixed. 
 
 This document shows the manner in which the address was often 
 put on a sealed letter, on a narrow tab. 
 
 85. Signet of Queen Elizabeth, [a.d. 1599.] 
 
 86. Receipt for making Ink. [15th century.] English. 
 The ingredients specified are gall, copperas or vitriol, and gum. 
 
 87. List of ]3ersons nominated for the oflice of sheriff in 
 different counties. Dated the morrow of All Souls, 22 Henry VI. 
 [3 November 1443.] Latin. 
 
 The persons whose names are mai'ked with a small dot in ink were 
 appointed sheriffs in their respective counties on the 4th of November 
 144y In later times, the names of the persons selected have been 
 pricked with a bodkin.
 
 CASE H. 35 
 
 88. Bill of the King's Wardrobe, acknowledging indebtedness 
 to Queen Isabel for money advanced by her. Dated 11 March, 
 8 Edward III. [a.d. 1334.] Latin. Two seals affixed. 
 
 89. A similar Bill.— Dated 18 July, 9 Edward III. [a.d. 
 1335.] Latin. Seal of Williani de Melton affixed. 
 
 90. A similar Bill.— Dated 3 June, 10 Edward III. [a.d. 
 1336.] Latin. Seal of Roger de Nofthhiir<ih affixed. 
 
 91. Bill of the King's Wardrobe for clothes and shoes. — Dated 
 12 June, 34 Edward III. [a.d. 1360.] Latin. Seal of Farlee 
 affixed. 
 
 Memorandum of payment, 13 June, 36 Edward III. [a.d. 
 1362.] Cancelled. 
 
 92. A similar Bill for victuals. — Dated 1 July, 34 Edward 
 III. [a.d. 1360.] Latin. Seal affixed. 
 
 Memorandum of payment, 23 May, 36 Edward III. [a.d. 
 1362.] Cancelled. 
 
 93. Fragment of an assize roll. [13th century.] Latin. 
 
 The fifth entry relates to a case m which Walter Bloweberme 
 charged Hamo le Stare with having been concerned with him in 
 stealing some clothes at Winchester, and the court resolved that the 
 matter should be decided by judicial combat. The approver having 
 vanquished his former associate, the latter was found guilty of larceny 
 and hanged. The scribe has amused himself by representing the 
 fight and the gallows. 
 
 94. Two playing cards. On the backs of them are orders 
 written by Thomas, Lord Darcy, to his herd for the delivery of 
 kids and heifers to certain persons named. 16 January 1518. 
 
 95. A bag of forged coins purporting to be groats of Henry 
 V. or VI.
 
 36 CASE H. 
 
 96. Foot of tine, and two indentures of fine, between 
 Eeginald, abbot of Battle, of the one part, and Walter le 
 Messager and Alice his wife, of tlie other part, touching a 
 messuage and lands at Hauekherst. Dated at Westminster on 
 the morrow of Ascension Day, 56 Henry III. [a.d. 1272.] 
 Latin. 
 
 When, after a suit, real or fictitious, the parties came to a final 
 agreement in court, for the transfer or settlement of freehold 
 property, the transaction was termed a "fine." Three copies of the 
 agreement were written out by an officer of the court on a single 
 piece of parchment, in such a way that one copy was at a right angle 
 to the other two. The document was then cut into three parts by two 
 indented lines, and one of the two corresponding sections was given 
 to each party, the transverse section, known as the " foot of fine," 
 being retained by the court. The series of Feet of Fines of the 
 Court of Common Pleas, preserved in the Public Eecord Office, 
 extends from the reign of Richard I. to that of William IV. when 
 the whole system was abolished by Act of Parliament. 
 
 97. A bag for tallies. [13th century.] 
 
 98. Foils of six tallies : — 
 
 A. B. C. D. The reeve of Ledecumbe for 9s. ; for 11/. 18.s-. Sd. ; 
 for 6s. 8d., and for 12/. 4s. M. respectively. 56 Henry IH. 
 [a.d. 1271-1272.] 
 
 E. Between Thomas Godefre and Joscy of Kent, a Jew, for 
 IZ. 10s. A.D. 1229. 
 
 F. Between John and Joscy of Kent, for 1/. 7s. 8(/. 
 
 Stocks of four tallies : — 
 
 G. Between Thomas Symondes, reeve of Horton, and Stephen 
 Velewet, for Ul. August, 12 Richard II. [a.d. 1388.] 
 
 H. I. K. Philip Harneys and Thomas Aylred, in connexion 
 with the building of a galley for the King at Ipswich, for 9s. ; 
 for 15/. 8s., and for 7/. respectively.
 
 CASE H. 87 
 
 Tallies were narrow shafts of hard wood on which notches were cut 
 to denote particular sums of money, the larger notches denoting the 
 larger sums. They wore inscribed with the name of the accountant 
 and sometimes with the sum involved. After being split longitudinally, 
 one section was retained by each of the parties to an account. The 
 shorter section was known as the foil ; the longer as the stock. 
 
 99. Certificate by John, minister of ■ the Trinitarian friars 
 at Houndeslowe, that Thomas Stoner, esquire, and Joan his 
 wife are entitled to participate in the benefits of their prayers. 
 A.D. 1466. Latin. Seal apjMnded. The names added. 
 
 100. Certificate by John Payne, S.T.P. Prior Provincial of 
 the Friars Preachers in England, that Master Henry Langley 
 and Catherine his wife are entitled to participate in the benefits 
 of their prayers. — Dated at Cambridge on the eve of the 
 Assumption, 1485. Latin. lUiiminated. The names added. 
 
 101. Certificate by the Alderman and Chamberlains of the 
 Gild of St. Mary in the church of St. Botulph, Boston, that 
 Catherine Langlay has been admitted thereinto. — Dated at 
 Boston. Tjatin. Printed. The name added. >■ 
 
 2119«.*J
 
 38 
 
 CASE I. 
 
 102. Letter from Admiral Viscount Howe, to Philip Stephens, 
 at the Admiralty. Informing him that the Royal George had 
 "suddenly overset, filled and sunk." The loss of the Rear- 
 Admiral [Kempenfeldt] is " the most interesting circumstance 
 in detriment of the King's naval service." — Dated on the 
 Victory at Spithead, 29 August 1782. English. Holograph. 
 Signed ; — " Howe." 
 
 103l* Letter from Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson to Sir John 
 Jervis, K.B. Describing a skirmish with Spanish gunboats at 
 Cadiz. — Dated on the Theseus, 4 July 1797. English. 
 Holograph. Signed ; — " Horatio Nelson." 
 
 This was one of the last letters written by Nelson before the loss of 
 his right arm. 
 
 104. Letter from Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson to Evan 
 Nepean at the Admiralty. Notifying his arrival and requesting 
 permission to go on shore for the recovery of his wounds. — 
 Dated on the Seahorse at Spithead, 1 September 1797. English. 
 Signed with the left hand; — "Horatio Nelson." 
 
 This was one of the first letters written by Nelson after the loss of 
 his right arm. 
 
 105. Letter from Vice- Admiral Viscount Nelson, Duke of 
 Bronte, to Lord Hobart [Secretary of State]. The Gihraltav 
 "is stationed at Naples for the protection of the royal family," 
 who "look up in their distress to His Majesty's fleet" and 
 request that it may not be withdrawn. " I have ordered the
 
 CASE I. 39 
 
 Gibraltar to remain, and my determination [is] never to 
 abandon those faithful allies of our Sovereign, and sooner than 
 withdraw the Gibraltar from Naples to fight double our force. 
 My heart, my Lord, is warm, my head is firm, but my body is 
 unequal to my wishes. I am visibly shook, but as long as I can 
 hold out I shall never abandon my truly honorable post." — 
 Dated on the Victory at sea, 4 •Januar}'^ 1804, English. 
 Holograph iclth the left hand. Signed ; — " Nelson and Bronte." 
 
 The writer was in command in the Mediterranean. 
 
 106. Log of the proceedings on board His Majesty's ship 
 Victor}/, Thomas M. Hardy, captain, by Thomas Atkinson, 
 master, from 21 October 1805 to 11 January 1806. Under date 
 of 21 and 22 October, it briefly describes the battle of Trafalgar. 
 " At 11.30 the enemy commenced firing on the Royal Sovereign. 
 At 11.40 the Royal Sovereign commenced firing on the enemy. 
 At 11.50 the enemy began firing on us." Lord Nelson was 
 wounded in the shoulder about 1.15 p.m., and a victory having 
 been reported to him at 4.30 p.m. " he then died of his wound." 
 
 The battle of Trafalgar was fought on the 21st of October, according 
 to the usual system of reckoning. As, however, the day at sea is 
 considered to begin at noon, the latter part of the action is entered in 
 the log under date of the 22nd of October. 
 
 107. Letter from Bonaparte, First Consul, to King George lU. 
 Re credentials for Anthony Merry, Minister Plenipotentiary, 
 recalled. — Dated at St. Cloud, 29 Brumaire in the 11th 
 year of the Republic, 21 October 1802. French. Signed; — 
 "Bonaparte." Countersigned :—" liugues B. Maret " ; " Ch. 
 Mau. Talleyrand." Great Seal of France affixed.
 
 40 CASE I. 
 
 108. Toint letter from Alexander, Emperor of Russia, and 
 Xapoleon, Emperor of the French, to King George III. " The 
 long and bloody war which has rent the continent is at an end, 
 without possibility of renewal. Many changes have taken place 
 
 in Europe ; many states have been overthrown 
 
 Greater changes yet may take place, and all of them con- 
 trary to the policy of the English nation. Peace is to the 
 interest of the peoples of the continent and the peoples of Great 
 Britain alike. We unite in praying your Majesty to listen to 
 the voice of humanity, silencing that of passion, to strive reso- 
 lutely to conciliate all interests, and thus to guarantee all powers 
 now existing and ensure the welfare of Europe, and of this 
 generation, at the head of which Providence has placed us." — 
 Dated at Erfurt, 12 October 1808. French. Signed: — 
 " Alexandre " ; " Napoleon." 
 
 A duplicate of this letter, accompanying it, differs only in the position 
 of the two signatures, which are pui-posely transposed. 
 
 109. Despatch from Arthur, Duke of Wellington, to Earl 
 Bathurst. Giving an account of the battle of Waterloo. — Dated 
 there 19 June 1815. English. Signed ,— " Wellington."
 
 41 
 
 CASE K. 
 
 110. Letter from Aumrath III. Sultan of Turkey, to Queen 
 Elizabetli, "refulgent \Yith .splendour and glory, most sapient 
 princess of the magnanimous followers of Jesus, most serene 
 controller of all the affairs and business of the people and family 
 of the Xazarenes, most grateful rain-cloud, sweetest fount of 
 splendour and honour."' Sec. Vromising that William Harrabroun 
 (Harborne), whom she has sent to the Porte with a most friendly 
 letter, shall enjoy all such privileges there as have been granted 
 to the French ambassador. — Dated at Constantinople at the end 
 of Rabi II, in the year of ^Mohammed 991. Endorsed; — 1588. 
 'J' II r Li ah. Miiii()<irai)i in i/old. 
 
 111. Letter from Sidi Mohammed, Emperor of Morocco, to 
 George III. Rex, "Perfect peace and harmony now reign 
 between us ... . We have complied with your Governor 
 of Gibraltar's strong intercessions in favoui" of Consul Popham 
 . . . . We desire you to send us an engineer, with ten 
 workmen in marlde, all clever in their profession." — Dated in 
 the year of the Hegira 1180 (September 17<>()), Andiic 
 Illiiniinati'd. 
 
 112. Lettei- from the Governor of the Red Sea to [Charles 
 11.] " the great monarch, the chief, the lofty, the distinguished, 
 the head of the Nazarene peoples and the grandest of their 
 imperial kings, monarch of the Angriz (English i." Concerning 
 Captain .loseph Ilinemans and .John .lones, who canu^ to Mocha 
 with merchandise and " wishing for a further supply of cot)"ee- 
 berries." The King's bitter lius been connuunicaled to the
 
 42 CASE K. 
 
 Imam, "the commander of the faithful and lord of the Moslems, 
 Al Mutawaldl al Allah Ismail, son of the Commander of 
 the faithful,- Al Kasim," and " his mind was softened by it 
 exceedingly."— Dated 26 Safar, in the year of the Hegira 1076 
 (7 September 1665). AraJnc. Written on reddish paper, 
 flecked witlt silver. 
 
 Endorsed: — " Received by Mr. Joseph Hinmers, captain of a 
 private trader set out by Mr. Andrews, 1665." "Eeceived 3 
 June 1669." 
 
 • '113. Letter from Marco Eosado, an Armenian, Goveriioi: of 
 Meleapor (Malabar) to King Charles II. Upon the report which 
 he hears of his Majesty, he begs to be counted in the number of 
 his vassals. He sends various rubies, pearls, and other stones 
 described. Having regard to the difficulty of building ships in 
 these Eastern parts, he asks for the gift of a ship, so that he 
 may be able to sail in search of iH'ecious things. He prays 
 Christ to grant the King victory over the rebels. — Dated at 
 Malabar, 4 February 1664. Portnguese, with translation into 
 SjMnisk. Written on white paper powdered with flowers in gold. 
 Signed. Seal. 
 
 114. Letter from C3'ril Lucar, Archbishop of Constantinople 
 and CEcumenical Patriarch, to King Charles I. Soliciting aid 
 on behalf of Gregory Argyropulus, who has been despoiled near 
 Thessalonica. — Dated June 1632. Greek. Signed: — " A'upixxof 
 
 The writer was the reforming prelate who had presented the King 
 with the famous Coder Alexandrinus.
 
 4S 
 
 CASE L. 
 
 115. Ratification by the Cortes of a treaty between Spain 
 and Great Britain. — Dated at Madrid, 26 March 1814. Sjyaiiish. 
 Bound in red velvet embroidered with metal. Great Seal of 
 King Ferdinand VII. appended in metal ease. 
 
 At the time of this ratification, King Ferdinand himself had only 
 just been released from captivity in France. 
 
 116. Letter from Philaret Nikitich, Patriarch of Moscow, in 
 the name of the Czar Michael Federovich, to King .James I.— 
 Dated at Moscow, 19 June 7129. [a.d. 1621.] Bussian. 
 Illnniinated. 
 
 117. Ratification by liing Louis XVIII. of a treaty between 
 France and Great Britain. — Dated at Paris, 11 June 1814. 
 French. Signed by Talleyrand ; — " Le Prince de Benevent." 
 Bound in blue velvet, embroidered with the arm,s of ,Fra)}C£,i(jCc. 
 Great Seal of France^ appended in metal case. . ^ • .: .. '. ' 
 
 118. Treaty between Great Britain and Persia.^Dated at 
 Teheran, 12 March 1809. Persian and English. Bichly 
 illuminated. 
 
 119. Treaty Ijetween Great Britain and Persia.~JJ)ated at 
 Tabruz, 27 June 1812. Persian and English. Uichly 
 illuminated.
 
 44 
 
 CASE M. 
 
 120. Promise, in the form of a round robin, by certain 
 Walloons and French to go and inhabit Virginia, a land under 
 the obedience of the King of Great Britain, [a.d. 1621.] French. 
 2\ve)iti/-7iinc signatures and tiventy-seren marks in lieu of 
 signatures. 
 
 121. Petition to the King [James II.] from William Penn. 
 Praying that the difference between Lord Baltimore and himself 
 may soon be heard by the Lords of Plantations, the delay being 
 very ruinous. [August 1685.] EnglisJt. Holograph. Signed .- 
 — "Wm. Penn." 
 
 This petition relating to the boundaries of Pennsylvania and Mary- 
 land was written in England. A decision in favour of Penn was given 
 in October 1685. 
 
 122. "A new mappe of a part of Hudson's or the North 
 River, [and] Piareton Piiver, which have their outlett into the 
 sea by Sandy Hoocke, .... survoyed in the jare 1700 
 by W. W. Romer." 
 
 Wolfgang William Komer was a native of the Hague, who went to 
 New York in 1697 with Lord Bellamont, the Governor, in the capacity 
 of chief engineer. 
 
 123. Great Seal of King George II. for Virginia. 
 
 124. Great Seal of King George III. for New York. 
 
 125. Great Seal of King George III. for Providence and the 
 other isles of Bahama.
 
 CASE M. 45 
 
 126. Petition to King George III. from the representatives 
 of i^'ew Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, 
 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Delaware, Maryland, 
 Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, in Congress 
 assemhled. The union hetween the mother country and these 
 colonies " under mild and just government," was "the wonder 
 and envy of other nations." After the conclusion of the late 
 war, ' ' the most glorious and advantageous ever carried on 1 )y 
 British arms," the loyal colonists were alarmed by " a new 
 system of statutes and regulations," and the King's ministers 
 proceeded to open hostilities for enforcing them. The colonists 
 were compelled to arm in their own defence, but they deprecate 
 the further effusion of blood. They ardently desire a restoration 
 of the former harmony between Great ]3ritain and her colonies 
 in a manner not inconsistent with her dignity and welfare. 
 They therefore pray that such statutes as more immediately 
 distress any of the colonies may be repealed, and that oppor- 
 tunities may be restored to them of showing the ''devotion 
 becoming the most dutiful subjects and the most affectionate 
 colonists." — [Philadelphia, 1 September 1775.] EiifiliHlt. Suptid 
 hji John Hancock and fort/i-cinhf others. 
 
 Among the signatories were John Adams, Stephen Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others, who, on the 4th of 
 July 1776, signed the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 127. Letter from George Washington, President of the United 
 States, to his "great and good friend" King George 111. Con- 
 cerning the exchange of ratifications of a treaty of amity, 
 commerce, and navigation, concluded in November 179-1. — 
 Dated at Philadelphia, 25 August 1795. Ennlisli. Su/ncd; — 
 " G. Washington." Connteralyncd hij the Sccrctari/ of State ; 
 — " Timothy Pickering.""
 
 46 
 
 PEDESTAL. 
 
 1. Letter from William of Wykeham to the Bishop of Ely, 
 Chancellor, and the Bishop of Bath, Treasurer. Informing them 
 that late on Monday [27 April] there came to the King at 
 "Windsor, Master Nicholas de Chaddesden, chancellor of the late 
 Archbishop of Canterbiir}^ and Symekyn de Bm-gh, his esquire, 
 bringing news of the death of their said lord, and praying that 
 the temporalities of the archbishopric, &c. might be committed 
 to the Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, and seven other 
 persons specified. — Dated at Windsor Castle, 28 April [1366]. 
 French. Probably holograph. Signed ; — " Li vostre sil vous 
 plest, William de Wykeham." 
 
 This relates to the death of Simon Islip, Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 2. Writ of Privy Seal of Edward, eldest son of the King of 
 France and England, Prince of Aquitaine, Earl of Chester, /^ 
 Lord of Biscay and Castro d'Ordiales. Ordering the issue bv , _ 
 Sir Eichard de Stafford, Sir Peter de L[acy] and John " '^ I 
 de Heutreworth of letters patent granting to John de Esquet^^^ '^x^tvy 
 an annuity of 50 marks out of the Exchequer of Chester, ^(.u .p|j 
 — Dated at Angouleme, 25 April 1370. French. Signed ; — ^ 
 "De par Homout, Ich Dene." Cancelled [in 1380]. "'^' 
 
 The signature to this document is the only example extant of the 
 Prince's writing. The two mottoes, "Houmout" (high courage) and 
 "Ich diene " (I serve), were placed alternately over the shields on his 
 monument at Canterbury. , 
 
 A memorandum on the back of the writ with regard to the 
 cancellation, which was made with scissors, is almost illegible, but 
 the date of it is doubtless 8 August 1380, when Richard II, granted 
 to John Esquot 20/. yearly, in lieu of the 50 marks granted by his 
 father. 
 
 *-i<s
 
 PEDESTAL. 47 
 
 3. Bill of Geoffrey Chaucer, Clerk of the Kmg's Works, to 
 
 the Chancellor, for the issue of a commission under the Great 
 
 Seal to Hugh Swayn to purvey stone, timber, tiles, shingles, 
 
 &c. and to take masons, carpenters, and others, for the works 
 
 at Westminster, Sheen, Kennington, Charing Mews, Byfleet, 
 
 Coldkennington, Clarendon, and Hathebergh Lodge ; and of 
 
 similar commissions to three others for the works at the Tower 
 
 of London, Berkhampstead, Childerne Langley, and Eltham. 
 
 [a.d. 1389.] French. Probablij holograjjJi.- Sifined ; — "Par 
 
 Geffray Chaucer, clerc des oevereines du roy nostre seignur." 
 
 Traces of signet. 
 
 The coimnissions issued by virtue of this warrant are entered on 
 Patent Roll 13 Richard II. part 1, membranes 28 and 8. 
 
 4. Letter from King Kichard IL to the Earl of Suffolk, 
 Chancellor. Ordering the issue of letters patent granting to the 
 prioress of [St. Mary] Magdalen's near Bristol a tun of red wine 
 of Gascony yearly at Christmas. — Dated under the signet, at 
 Bristol Castle, 2G July [1386]. French. *S%He(? ,—" Richard." 
 
 This is the earliest extant signature of an English King. 
 
 5. Letter from King Eichard IL to [William of Wykeham] 
 Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor. Ordering him to deliver the 
 Great Seal to one or other of four specified persons, in order that 
 it may be affixed to letters patent and letters close concerning a 
 process between the Earl of Salisbury and John Montagu, his 
 brother. This done the Bishop is to take back the seal into his 
 custody. — Dated, under the signet of the Queen in the absence 
 of the King's own signet, at Havering Manor, 15 November 
 [1389]. French. Signed ,—'' Le Roy R[ichard] S[econd], 
 saunz departyr." 
 
 The Chancellor had apparently refused to alli.v the Great Heal to 
 the documenta mentioned.
 
 4M PEDESTAT.. 
 
 6. Letter fi-om EiigueiTrtiul. Sire de Coucy, to King Richard II. 
 Lamenting the outhreak of war lietween France and England, hut 
 consequently renouncing his fealty and homage, and requesting 
 that another person may be appointed to the Order of the Garter 
 in his stead.— Dated 26 August [1377]. Ernirh. SraJ. 
 
 Endorsed: — " A treshonnoure et trespoissant seigneur le Roy 
 d'Angleterre." 
 
 EnguciTiUid, birc dc Coucy. was Earl of Bedford in the peerage of 
 England. He had married Isabel, daughter of Edward III. and aunt 
 of Richard II. Although one of the great feudatories of France, he 
 bore a lowly title — 
 
 •*Je ne suis Itoy nc I'riiice ausi; 
 Je suis le Sire de Coucy." 
 
 7. Letter from King Henry IV. to his Council. Informing 
 them that the Earl of Northumberland, with liiy son, Henry de 
 Percy, and the Earl of the March of Scotland and others de- 
 feated the Scots at Homeldon near Wallore in Northumberland, 
 on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross [14 September]. 
 There were taken the Earl Douglas, Mordik, eldest son of the 
 Earl of Fyfe, the Earls of Murrif, Angus and Orkney, several 
 lords and bannerets and others both Scots and French, to 
 the num])er of about a thousand. The Lord of Gordon and 
 John Swynton, knight, were killed, but only five men were 
 killed on the English side. The Chancellor is to issue writs 
 under the Great Seal to the persons named in the schedule 
 enclosed, forbidding them to put any Scotch prisoner to ransom 
 without the King's ordei'. — Dated under the signet, at Daventre, 
 20 September [1402]. l-'icnch. Srlndnh' <iicJ<>sfd. 
 
 The decisive battle of Huiiiblcdon is said to have lasted only an 
 hour.
 
 PEDESTAL. 49 
 
 8. Letter from King Henry IV. to his Council in London. 
 Ordering the issue of letters patent of protection for certain 
 persons named in the schedule enclosed, who are to serve in the 
 company of the Earl of Warwick in the defence of the castle 
 and town of Brecknock in South Wales, as they will not go 
 thither without such letters of protection. — Dated under the 
 signet, at Bristol, 23 Octoher [1403] . French. Sirjned ; — 
 "H.Pi."' Srhnhih' enchmuL 
 
 f[(>l<);iraj>1i poxtsrrijit : — " Nessescitas non habet legem. Et 
 pour tant volons que noz lettres de protection soient fais selonc 
 la contenue de cestes noz lettres, consideranz q[u]a cause de 
 guere move contre nous dedeins nostre reaume nous pourrons 
 fere toutez noz courtez cesser, en sauvacion de noz et nostre 
 reaume."' 
 
 9. Letter from King Henry IV. to [Thomas Arundel] Arch- 
 Ijishop of Canterbury, Chancellor. Ordering the issue of letters 
 patent concerning the queen's dower. — Dated under the signet, 
 at Eltham iNIanor, (5 April [1409 ?] . Fretu-h. 
 
 llohHinipIt jx^il.'^crlpt : — " With al min trew liert, worchip- 
 tt'ull and well beloved cosin, I grete yow ofte well, and vow 
 next God 1 thonke of the goode hele that I am inne, for so 
 I may well without saying so. Reverend and well beloved 
 cosin, I send yaw^ a l)ylle for the queue towchyng her dower, 
 wych I pray yow miclit be sped, and ye slioll do us bothe gret 
 ese ther inne, wherefor we woll thoidv yow with nl owre hert. 
 Yowr trewe sotie Hem-ye." 
 
 A (loeuuient concerning the dower ol' the King's second wife. Joan. 
 is entered on Patent lioll 10 Henry IV. part 2. m. 15, under date 
 of 1 July 1409.
 
 50 ' PEDESTAL. 
 
 10. Petition from John Kyngesle}^ esquire, to King Henry V. 
 for an annuity of 10/. the hke having been granted to him for 
 hfe by his bite lord, Thomas, Duke of Clarence, out of the rents 
 of his castle and lordship of Hawarden, which are now in the 
 King's hands, [a.d. 1421-1422.] French. 
 
 Minuted hi/ tltr King ; — " E. H. in the forme and manere that 
 our brothres lettres purporten, whil us lust." 
 
 A similar petition from William Troutbek in regard to an annuity 
 of 20/. similarly signed and minuted by the King, is now in the British 
 Museum (Cotton IMS. Vesp. F. xiii. f. 27), having been appropriated 
 by Sir Eobert Cotton. 
 
 11. Letter from Henry, Prince of Wales, to his father, King 
 Henry IV. Praising the company of his brother of Bedford, 
 and sending a roll of the names of those serving under other 
 captains. According to command, he will send the ladies, 
 but he wishes to know whether the King desires that his cousin 
 of York should be barbed or not. The King's " gret ship, the 
 Grace Dieu " is ready " and is the fairest that ever man saugh." 
 The Earl of Devonshire has made his muster in her. The 
 King of Scots is coming to the King " as glad as any man can 
 be," to show his good will. — Dated at Hampton (Southampton), 
 14 May [1412]. English. Holograph. Signed; — " Yowr trew 
 and humble liegeman and sone, H. G." 
 
 It is remarkable that the writer calls his brother John by the 
 name of Bedford, for the title was not given to him until 1414. The 
 ladies were perhaps wanted at court in connection with the visit 
 of ambassadors sent by the Duke of Berry and others, to arrange for 
 an invasion of France. Joan, Duchess of York, had apparently been 
 wearing a barbe, in token of widowhood, since the death of her 
 husband, Edmund of Langley, in 1402. James I., King of Scots, 
 had been a prisoner in England ever since 1406. The initials " H. G." 
 probably stand for •' Henricus Gwallie " or "Henry Galles."
 
 PEDESTAL. ' 51 
 
 12. Letter from Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, to 
 King Henry V. Acknowledging the receipt of his letter 
 announcing the peace, and congratulating him on his marriage, 
 which is to take place as soon as convenient after the feast of 
 the Trinity. His cousin [Thomas] Chaucer will have informed 
 the King of his demeanour since he came to England. He 
 would have desired to be present " at that blessid gladde 
 mariage," but when he was " on the grette see," he made a vow 
 that after his return to England he would not pass any sea save 
 on pilgrimage until he had been to St. James [of Compostella] . 
 Therefore when he was at Calais, he went straight to the King, 
 for if he had gone to England he could not have crossed to 
 Normandy until after his pilgrimage had been done. He 
 therefore hopes that the King will not take to " displeasaunsse " 
 his not coming. — Dated at Waltham, 6 June [1420]. Emjlisk. 
 Holograi)h. Sirjned ; — " Yowre humble subgit and trewe 
 ligeman, H. W." 
 
 The marriage between Henry V. and Catherine, daughter of 
 Charles VI. King of France, took place at Troyes, on Trinity Sunday, 
 2 June 1420. 
 
 A facsimile of this document is given in the National Manuscripts 
 of England, Vol. I., but the editor has erroneously described it as a 
 letter from Henry, Prince of "Wales, to Henry IV., attributing it to an 
 earlier date. 
 
 13. Petition to King Henry VI. for some rewards to the 
 grooms and pages of his household according to former 
 yearly use, they having been unrewarded of late. Eni/li.sJt. 
 
 Minuted by the Kiikj ; — " R. H. nous avouns graunte C. 
 marces." 
 
 Memorandum of the issue of letters [of i)rivy seal] 12 
 December, in the 15th year [a.d. 1430].
 
 52 PEDESTAL. 
 
 14. Petition to King Henry VI. for a grant to Master 
 Richard Praty, dean of the chapel of the King's household, 
 of presentation to the pai'ish church of Prestecote, void hy the 
 consecration of the last parson thereof, Master Piohert Gilhert 
 [Bishop of London]. French. 
 
 Minuted 1)1/ the Kin<i ; — " R, Henry, nous avouns grante." 
 Menioramltini of the issue of letters [of privy seal] 27 
 October, in the 15th year [a.d. 1436] . 
 
 The name "Henry" is in printer's ink, applied by a wooden stamp. 
 The date is only thirteen years later than that of the earliest existing 
 print from an engraved wooden block, the St. Christopher of 1428, but 
 there is an original block which has been assigned to the previous 
 century. All other warrants issued by Henry VI. were signed in the 
 usual way. The block may have been cut for the young King, and given 
 to him as a specimen, without any idea of its being used by him for 
 practical purposes. The royal sign manual was occasionally affixed to 
 documents by means of a stamp in the reigns of Henry VIII. [see No. '26), 
 James I. and George IV. 
 
 15. Resolution by the Lords of the Council that the marriage 
 of Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland, knight, the Iving's ward, be 
 granted to John Radclift", knight, Seneschal of Aquitaine, in 
 part i)ayment of 2,000 marks due to him by the King. 
 
 Further resolution that Elizabeth, late the wife of John, Lord 
 de Clifford, knight, be allowed to marry whomsoever she will 
 in England, for a tine of 200 marks, to be assigned to the said 
 John Radcliff for his wages and those of 200 archers. Dated at 
 the Eriars Preachers (Blackfriars), London, 20 July, 4 Henry VI. 
 [a.d. 1426.] Latin. .Sifined hi/ John, Duke of Bedford; 
 HKuqihreif, Duke of Gloucester ; llcnrii Chichele, Archldahop of 
 Canterhiirt/ ; Joitn Kentp, Arclibishop of York, Oianeellor ; t)ie 
 Bishops of Exeter, iJurham, and Bath ; and Lords Hungerjord, 
 Scrape and Typtot. 
 
 A marriage had been already arranged between the young Earl of 
 
 Westmoreland and Lady de Cliti'ord, who was a daughter of '• Harry 
 
 Hotspur."
 
 PEDESTAL. ■ 58 
 
 16. Petition to King Henry YI. for letters patent ennobling 
 Roger Keys, clerk, and Thomas Keys, his brother, and the 
 issue of the latter, and granting to them the arms depicted, 
 in consideration of the services of the said Roger in connexion 
 with the building of the King's College of Eton. Latin. 
 
 Minuted hi/ the King ,— " R. H." 
 
 Memorandum of the delivery of this bill to the Chancellor, 
 19 May, in the 27th year [a.d. 1449] . 
 
 The three keys granted to Roger and Thomas Keys are an example 
 
 of " canting heraldry." Nicholas Cloos, who was engaged upon the 
 building of the sister College at Cambridge, received a very similar 
 patent. 
 
 17. Draft of letters patent of King Henry YI. ennobling 
 Arnald de Bordeu and Grimond de Bordeu, his son, burgesses 
 of Bordeaux, and their issue, and granting to them the arms 
 depicted, [a.d. 1444.] Latin. 
 
 The letters patent ai-e enrolled on the Gascon Roll, "22 Henry VI, 
 m. 8. 
 
 18. Letter from King Edward lY. to the [Bishop of Exeter] 
 Chancellor. Ordering the issue of a commission of Oyer and 
 Terminer to John Bhipwarde, Mayor of Bristol, and nine others, 
 concerning riotous persons in that town and the adjoining 
 country.- -Dated under the signet, at Pountefret Castle, 
 2 December [1463]. EufiUsli. Signed; — " R. E." /// ///o»m/ra/>/. 
 
 Holograpli postserijyt ; — " Cosyn, yif ye thynke ye schult 
 
 have a wai'vant, thys our wryten that soffysse onto, ye may 
 
 have on made in dew forme. We pray you liyt tiiiyle not to 
 
 be don." 
 
 The commission ordered by this warrant is entered on Patent Roll, 
 3 Edward IV. part 2, m. llr/, under date of 8 January 1464.
 
 54 PEDESTAL. 
 
 19. Draft of letters patent of King Edward IV. granting 
 to Lewis de Brugges of La Gruthuse, Prince of Steenhuse, Lord 
 of Avelghien, Spiers, Aenistede and Oescampe, and the heirs 
 male of his body, as Earls of Winchester, the arms described in 
 French and depicted. Latin. S'ujiicd hi the King; — " R. E." 
 in monogram. 
 
 Memorandum of delivery of this bill to the Chancellor, 
 23 November, 12 Edward IV. [a.d. 1472.] 
 
 The mascles in the arms are derived from those in the arms of the 
 Quineys, former Earls of Winchester ; the lion from those in the 
 arms of England. 
 
 The grant is em-olled on the Patent Roll, 12 Edward IV. part 1, 
 m. 11, where the arms are also depicted. The original letters patent, 
 which were surrendered to Henry VII. at Calais in 1500, are now 
 in the British Museum. 
 
 20. Receipt by Queen Elizabeth, late wife to King 
 Edward IV. to John, Lord Denham, Treasurer of England, for 
 30/. in part payment of the annuity granted to her by the 
 King.— Dated 21 May, 7 Henry VII. [a.d. 1492.] English. 
 Signed ; — " Elizabeth." 
 
 21. Letter from King Edward V. to [Thomas Bourchier], 
 Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury. Desiring him to see to 
 the sure keeping of the Great Seal until the King's coming 
 to the city of London, and to call together the lords there to 
 provide for the safeguard of the Tower of London and the 
 treasure therein. — Dated under the signet, at Northampton, 
 2 May [1483]. EngUsh. Signed,— ''B. E." 
 
 The King had been in the custody of his uncle, the Duke of 
 Gloucester, since the 30th of April.
 
 PEDESTAL. 55 
 
 22. Draft of writs to the (sheriffs of Middlesex and London 
 and twentj'-seven other sheriffs, ordering them to make 
 proclamation that all persons, not being knights, who have had 
 40/. a year from lands or rents for three years, are to appear 
 before the King by the 18th of June next to receive knighthood. 
 Latin. Sinned hj Kin;/ Ethrard V.; — " R.E."' Coioitersifined 
 by the Protector ; — "R, Gloucestre." 
 
 Memorandum of the delivery of this bill to the Chancellor, 
 20 May, 1 Edward Y. [a.d. 1483.] 
 
 At the date of the issue of this warrant, it was intended that the 
 young King should be crowned on the 22nd of June. 
 
 23. Letter from King Eichard III. to the [Bishop of 
 Lincoln] Chancellor : — " My Lorde Chaunceler, we pray you 
 in all hast to send to us a pardon under our gret seale to 
 Sir Herry Wode, preste, &c. and this shalbe your warrant." 
 [a.d, 1483-1485.] Enrilish. Holofiraph. Signed; — " Eicardus 
 
 Rex." 
 
 Minuted by the Chancellor; — "M [aster] Skypton, spede this 
 forth wyth, &c. Jo. Lincoln." 
 
 No such pardon is entered on the Patent Rolls or the Pardon Rolls 
 of the period. 
 
 24. Letter from King Eichard IIL to the Bishop of Lincoln, 
 Chancellor. Ordering the issue of letters patent in French 
 announcing the conclusion of a treaty with Francis, Duke of 
 Brittany, to be dated the 8th of June 1484. — Dated under the 
 signet, at Pontefract Castle, 10 June, 1 Richard IIL Latin. 
 Signed; — " R. R." in monogram.
 
 56 PEDESTAL. 
 
 25. Letter from Kin,£f riichard III. to tlie Risliop of Lincoln. 
 Chancellor. Thankin*^ him for his presents and orderinfj; him 
 to send the Great Seal and some of the otHce of the Chancery, 
 as he cannot come in person by reason of his " inlirmitees and 
 diseases." — Dated under the signet, at Lincoln, 12 October [1483]. 
 EmiUslt. 
 
 I[olo;iraj)}t poHtHoipt ; — "We wolde most gladly ye came 
 
 yorself yf that ye may Here, loved be 
 
 God, ys all well and trewly determyned, and for to resyste 
 the malysse of hym that had best cawse to be trewe, the 
 Due of Bokynliam, the most untrewe creature lyvyng, whom 
 with Gode's grace we shall not be long tyll that we wyll be 
 in that partyes and subdewe hys malys. We assure you that 
 was never falss traytor better purvayde for, as this berrer, 
 Gloucestre, shall shewe you." 
 
 The Duke of Buckingham took up arms on the 18 October. 14HB. He 
 was beheaded on 2 November. The person mentioned as Gloucester 
 was the herald of that name, Richard Champney. 
 
 26. Letter from King Henry VIII. to Sir Edward Darell, 
 knight for his body. Forasmuch as "our enemye the Frenshe 
 king hath prepaired a strong navye furnisshed with men of 
 warre to entier this our reame in this next moneth of 
 February, and, as it is said, they purpose to lande on the 
 see cooste of that our countie of Wilteshire, for to brenne, 
 slee, and distroye all that they may overcome," we have 
 appointed Sir John Lile and Sir William Sandes "to be chief 
 capitains and leders of the hole power of our said countie with 
 the assistence of yon and others of the same ; We therfore woll 
 and commaunde you that for your parte ye doo put yourself with
 
 PEDESTAL. 57 
 
 your uttermoost strenght and power of men in arredynes . . 
 . . to resorte unto the said capitains upon an houres 
 warenyng." — Dated under the signet, at Greenwich, 29 January 
 [1513]. EngUsJi. Sif/ned witli a atmnp ; — "Henry R." 
 
 See No. 14, above. 
 
 Wiltshire has no sea coast, but Sir John Lisle and Sir William 
 Sandys had, on the previous day, been appointed commissioners of 
 array for Hampshire and Wiltshire. 
 
 27- " A devise how the Frenshe King shuld approve the 
 divorce and the marriage upon the same." [March 1535.] Draft 
 in the hand of Tliomas Wriothesley, of a declaration to he 
 made by Francis I., icitJi intcrlineatiojis in t)u> hand of Henry 
 VIII. French. 
 
 28. Letter from Queen Catherine to the King's Ahnoner 
 [Thomas Wolsey] . Recommending that the Duke [of Longue- 
 ville] be conveyed to the Tower "as sone as he commethe," 
 for "it shuld be a grete combraunce to me to have this prisoner 
 here." " Oon of the grettest comfortes that I have now is to 
 here by your lettres of the Kinges helthe and of al your 
 newes . . . From hens I have noo thing to write to you 
 more than I am seur the counsaille enfourmethe the King, 
 prayeng God to sende us as good hikke against the Scottes as 
 the King hathe there." — Dated at Richmond, 2 September 
 [1513]. English. Signed ; — "Katherine the Qwene." 
 
 Louis d'Orleans, Duke of Longueville, had been taken prisoner in 
 the " Battlo of the Spurs," fought on the 17th of August near 
 T^rouane. At the date of this letter, Henry Vllf. was still in 
 France, and the Scots were in possessiou of part of Northumberland, 
 but they were defeated at Flodden on the 9th of September.
 
 58 PEDESTAL. 
 
 29. Letter from Anne Bolejai to Master Stephen [Gardiner] . 
 Thanking him for his letter, which shows "the wyllyng and 
 faythfulle mynde " that he has to do her pleasure, and expressing 
 her hope " that the ende of this jorney shall be more pleasant " 
 to her than his first. She sends cramp-rings for him, Master 
 Gregory and Master Peter. — Dated at Greenwich, 4 April [1529]. 
 English. Signed; — "Anne Boleyn." 
 
 Stephen Gardiner was iu Italy for the second time, endeavouring 
 to promote a divorce between Henry Vill. and his first wife, 
 Catherine of Arragon. Gregory Casale and Peter Vannes were also 
 engaged in the negotiation with the Pope. Cramp-rings blessed by 
 the King on Good Friday, which in 1529 fell upon the 26th of March, 
 were believed to be efficacious against epilepsy. 
 
 30. Letter from Cardinal Wolsey, x-Vrchbishop of York, to 
 King Henry Yin. He, the King's "poore, hevy, and wrechyd 
 prest," daily cries "for grace, mercy, remissyon, and pardon." 
 He desires nothing "next unto God" but the King's favour and 
 forgiveness. [October 1529.] English. Holograph. Signed ; — 
 "Your Graces moste prostrat poore chapleyn, creature, and 
 bedisman, T. Car[dina]lis Ebor, miserimus.'' 
 
 31. Letter from Thomas Crumwell to the Lords of the Privy 
 Council. Desiring credence for the bearer — a servant of the 
 Cardinal of York — and advising that the man ' ' apprehended on 
 Sonday last," a "very evill disposed persoun ... be not 
 put to deth " until by examination they " knowe the hoole and 
 profound bothom of his cancred hert." — Dated at the Rolls 
 17 October [1534]. English. Signed; — "Your lordshippis 
 assuryd freend, Thomas Crumwell." 
 
 Thomas Crumwell was at this time Master of the Rolls, and, as 
 such, lived at the Rolls in Chancery Lane, the site of which is now 
 occupied by the Public Record Office.
 
 PEDESTAL. 59 
 
 32. Memorandum by Sir Thomas More that he had taken 
 out of a particular box a confirmation of a treaty made l)y the 
 French King at Arde, and an obhgation for payment of monej''. 
 —Dated 28 January, 16 Henry VIII. [a.d. 1525.] Eiifilish. 
 Holograph. Signed; — " By me Thomas More, k." 
 
 The mark in the upper rnargiu represents that inscribed on the box 
 from which the documents were removed. The different boxes in 
 the Treasury at Westminster bore distinguishing marks, generally 
 heraldic or otherwise emblematical of their respective contents. 
 
 The ratincation by Francis T. at Arde of a treaty witli Henry VIII. 
 is preserved in the Public Record Office. 
 
 33. Letter from Miles Coverdale and Richard Grafton to 
 Thomas, Lord Crumwell, Lord Privy Seal. We send two 
 samples of the Bible, one on parchment — on which we intend 
 to print two copies, one for the King and the other for your 
 Lordship — and the second on paper. " We folowe not onlj'^ a 
 standynge texte of the Hebrue, with the interpretation of the 
 Caldee and the Greke, but we set also, in a pryvate table, the 
 dyversite of rediuges of all textes." The charge is great. We 
 desire " to be defended from the Papistes " — we are " dayly 
 threatened." — Dated at Paris, 23 June [1538]. English. 
 Signed ; — "Myles Coverdale" ; " Rychard Grafton, grocer." 
 
 This relates to the "Great Bible," the printing of which was begun 
 in Paris and completed in England after the proscription of the work 
 by the French Government. 
 
 34. Letter from Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, to Thomas Crumwell. Piequesting him " to advertise" 
 the King to send to the Count Palatine " a cople or 
 two of grate grayhoundes and as many of grete mastives," 
 which will be as acceptable to him as "a precious Jewell or 
 rewarde."— Dated at Otford, 9 June [1533]. English Signed; 
 
 —" Thomas Cantuar,"
 
 60 PEDESTAL. 
 
 35. Letter from Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, to 
 the Lord Privy Seal [Crumwell]. "Here ys no iesse joynge 
 and rejossynge in thes partees for the hyrth of our prynee, 
 hoom we hungurde for so longe, then ther was (I trow) inte)' 
 rici)ios att the hyrth of S. J[ohn] Baptyste." God "hathe 
 shoyd Hym self God of Ingionde or rather an Inglyssh God." 
 " We ar now moor then compellyed to serve Hym, seke His 
 glory, promott Hys wurde, yf the Devylle of alle Devylles be 
 natt in us." — Dated at Hartlebury, 19 October [1537]. English. 
 Holograph. Signed ; — " H. L. b. of Wurcest." 
 
 Postscript; — The bearer, Evans, should be excited " to be 
 moore hartye agen the abuse of ymagry." 
 
 Prince Edward, afterwards King Edward VI.. was born 12 October 
 l.')37. 
 
 36. Warrant from King Edward YI. to Lord Riche, 
 Chancellor, for the making of due process and writs against 
 Thomas, Lord Seymour of Sudeley, late High Admiral of 
 England, who has been attainted of high treason, "to cause 
 his heade to be smytten of frome his bodye," but remitting 
 " the resydue of thexecucions of dethe appoynted." — Dated 
 under the sign manual and signet, at W^estminster, 18 March 
 [1549]. English. Signed; — "Edward." Countersigned by the 
 Duke oj Somerset, T. Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 R. Ryche, chancellor, and thirteen other members of the 
 Council. 
 
 Memorandum of delivery of this bill to the Chancellor, 
 19 March, 3 Edward VI. [a.d. 1549.] 
 
 Lord Seymour was uncle of the King and brother of the Duke of 
 Somerset, both of whom thus authorised his execution,
 
 PEDESTAL. 61 
 
 37. Warrant from Queen Elizabeth to Christopher Wray, 
 Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, for the deUvery to Martin 
 Frobisher of twelve specified prisoners, condemned or likely to 
 be condemned to death, "to make a viage by the seas for 
 the discovery of new countryes." Dated at Westminster, 
 28 February, 19 Elizabeth, [a.d. 1577.] English. Signed; — 
 "Elizabeth R." Signet. Countersigned: — "Windebank." 
 
 38. Bill of Queen Jane for the issue of letters patent 
 appointing Edward Benarde to be sheriff of Wiltshire. — 
 Dated 14 July [1553]. Latin. Signed ; — " Jane the Quene." 
 
 This is one of the very few documents signed by Lady Jane Grey 
 during her nominal reign of nine days. The name of the sheriff 
 designate is in her hand. 
 
 39. Bill of Queen Mary for the issue of letters patent 
 appointing Edward Baynarde to be sheriff' of Wiltshire in the 
 place of William Sharington, knight, deceased. Latin. Signed; 
 — " Marye the Quene." 
 
 Memorandim of the delivery of this bill at Framlingham, 
 
 6 July, 1 Mary. [a.d. 1553.] 
 
 As Edward VI. died at Greenwich on tlie evening of the 6t]i of 
 July, this bill cannot have been delivered to the Chancellor in Suflblk 
 on that day. Inasmuch, moreover, as Sir William Sharington did 
 not die until the 9th of July, the document cannot have been written 
 before that day. The real date of delivery whs the IGth. 
 
 40. Letter from the Emperor Charles Y. to Queen Mary. 
 Begging her to give permission to Captain Cabote, formerly pilot 
 of his kingdom of Spain, who went to England some years ago, 
 to return to him in order to hold communication about navigation. 
 —Dated at Mons in Hainault, 9 September 1553. French.
 
 62 PEDESTAL. 
 
 Signed; — "Voire boii frere et cousin, Charles." Counter- 
 signed ; — " Bave." 
 
 This letter relates to Sebastian Cabot, the celebrated discoverer 
 and geographer, who had been resident in England since 1547. A 
 somewhat similar application had been refused at his desire by the 
 Privy Council of Edward VI. in 1550, and this proved equally 
 unsuccessful. 
 
 41. Passport for Richard Shelley, esquire, sent by King 
 Philip and Queen Mary to the King of Portugal and the 
 Princess of Portugal, Regent in Spain, to announce to them the 
 Queen's happy delivery of a prince. — Dated at Hampton Court, 
 [May] 1555. English. Signed; — " Philippus " ; " Marye the 
 Quene." 
 
 The Queen, being under the delusion that she was pregnant, caused 
 letters to be addressed to several foreign princes, announcing her 
 coulinement, and, with the approval of her husband, selected the 
 messengers who were to convey them. 
 
 42. Letter from Queen Mary to Francis Venier, Doge of 
 Venice. Informing him that she has given birth to a son. — 
 Dated at Hampton Court, [May] 1555. Latin. Written and 
 countersigned hy Roger Ascham. Signed ; — " Maria." 
 
 There is a very similar letter, also written in Latin by Ascham, 
 addressed to the Pope, and signed by the Queen, and another in 
 English addressed to Cardinal Pole, bearing the signatures of the 
 King and Queen. In these the child is described as a sou. There 
 is, however, another series of letters of about the same date, in 
 which the sex of the child is left uncertain. In letters addressed 
 to the Emperor, to the King of Hungary, to the Queen Dowager of 
 Hungary, to the King of Bohemia, to the King of France, and to the 
 Queon Dowager of France, the words " un fil " could be altered, 
 according to the event, into " un filz " or " une lille," while in letters 
 in Spanish addressed to the Queen of Portugal and to the Queen of 
 Bohemia, the words " un hij " could equally be altered. The letters 
 uf this series were signed by the Queen alone. The exact date was 
 in every case left blank, for obvious reasons.
 
 PEDESTAL. 63 
 
 43. Letter from John Knox to Sir William Cecil, Principal 
 Secretary to the Queen. Contending that if he *' slrik not 
 att the roote, the branches that appear to be brocken will 
 budd againe," and declaring that he himself was never "eniemey 
 to the quietnes of England." — Dated at Edinburgh, 2 January 
 1569 [-70]. English. Holograph. Signed; — " Johne Knox, 
 with his one foote in the grave." 
 
 This letter, although guardedly worded, seems to point clearly to 
 the desirability of shortening the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. The 
 writer survived until 24 November 1572. 
 
 44. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Sir William Cecil, 
 Principal Secretary to the Queen. " Mester Cessilles, iff I mindet 
 ani uther thing nor to deal plenli to the contentemant oil' the 
 quin, my good sister, I would nott adres me (let be privatli) 
 publikli to sik your good furderance in my affayres, knouing 
 yowr upricht service to her, bott sens I wische nothing bott to 
 havve the meaues to satishe her and obtein her good favour. 
 
 . . . I am bold thus priveli to pray yow to let me havve 
 yowr advis in the sam mener, wiche I will at my pouer falou, 
 using yowr sed advice with the discretion required to yowr 
 satisfaction. Be this will yow oblisg me, pleis God, qhuo willes 
 everi minister to labour for the pasiliing of his cuntri, and I 
 trust eftervardes to be beloved for it off the quin." I will impart 
 all my mind to the Bishop of Ross. " I must also thank yow 
 for his delivring and pray yow to furder his audiance at the 
 quine's handis, qhuarby with the rest I may perceave that al 
 ivel opinions off me be out oft' your heid, as yow promised me 
 and I yow." I pray God "to mouve the quin's hert to consider 
 off me or wors com." "I pray you let my harti commendations 
 be ten in als good pert to your bedfalou, as I wische her wilingH
 
 64 PEDESTAL. 
 
 to doe well and be me frind." — Dated at Tutbury, 23 May 
 [1570]. Scottish-English. Holograph. Signed; — Yowr richt 
 asured good frind, Marie E." 
 
 Some of the writer's letters to Cecil, during her confinemeat in 
 England, are, like this, in Scottish-English; others are in French. 
 
 John Leslie, Bishop of Eoss, who had been arrested on a charge of 
 being concerned in the rebellion in the north of England, was engaged 
 in negotiations for the restoration of Mary to the throne of Scotland. 
 
 45. Letter from Sir Philip Sidney to Jaen Wyer. "Come, 
 my Weier, come. I am in danger of my life, and I want you 
 here. Neither living nor dead shall I be ungrateful. I can 
 write no more, but I earnestly pray you to make haste. Fare- 
 well. At Arnem. Yours Ph. Sidney." [October 1586.] Latin. 
 Holograph. 
 
 The writer was wounded at the battle of Zutpben on the 22nd of 
 September, and he died at Arnhem on the 17th of October. 
 
 46. Letter from Sir Francis Drake to Sir Francis Walsing- 
 ham, principal Secretary to the Queen. " God hath given us 
 so good a daye in forcyng the enemey so far to leeward as I 
 hope in God the Prince of Parma and the Duke of Sedonya 
 shall not shake handes this fewe dayes. . . . This dayes 
 servis hath much apald the enemey and no doubt but incoraged 
 our armey." — Dated on board the Revenge [near Calais], 29 July 
 1588. English. Holograp>h. Signed ; — " Fra. Drake." 
 
 Postscript: — "There must be great care taken to send us 
 monycyon and vittuall whether so ever the enemey goeth." 
 
 This was written while the Spanish Armada was still formidable. 
 
 47. Letter from William Cecil, Lord Burghley, to Sir Francis 
 Walsyngham, Secretary of State. Kequesting him to send to 
 Phelipps for two original letters addressed to the Scottish
 
 PEDESTAL. 65 
 
 Queen, wliich, being of much importance, will be required for 
 use at the meeting of the Lords on the morrow. — Dated at his 
 house near the Savoy, 27 September 1586. Eu<ilkh. Hula- 
 f/rapJt. Signed; — " W. Burghley." 
 
 Holograph postscript : — " We meane to sitt by 8 in the 
 morning, and I thynk all will not be well doone afor 2." 
 
 48. Letter from Robert Cecil to his father. Lord Burghley, 
 
 Lord High Treasurer. I " acquaint you with that which I have 
 
 hearde of a Sp[anish] jentleman taken yesterday in one of the 
 
 galeases which was runn a shore at Calis and there is seised 
 
 by Mons. Gowrdan. The Captaine of this shipp named Mon- 
 
 cada, one of the greatest personages in the fleete, was killed." 
 
 " The second of account in that shipp is taken and kept in one 
 
 of the shipps in her Majesties fleete. This mann that is here is 
 
 a proper jentleman of Salamanca, who affirmeth that there is 
 
 great lack imputed to the D [uke] of Parma in that he hath not 
 
 joined with this fleet which hath lingred abowt Calis and 
 
 Graveling of purpose for him, and wold not have styrred from 
 
 those roads if the devise of the fyrewoorks on Sonday had not 
 
 forced them to ship their ankers." We saw the fight yesterday 
 
 from the land. The opinion of this gentleman is that they will 
 
 have aid from Scotland, and that "'if they cold but draw away 
 
 our fleet to the northward, therby hoping tcncre il mare iietto,'' 
 
 the Duke of Parma might land here. The powder sent3^esterday 
 
 is gone to the fleet in the Roebuck, " which Sir W. Pvawley built, 
 
 which is a tine shipp and well furnished." I can hear nothing 
 
 of Lord Derby. — Dated at Dover, 80 July 1588. English. 
 
 Holograph. Signed ,— " Piobt. Cecill." 
 
 The tireworks mentioned were tlia burning ships set adrift by the 
 English.
 
 66 PEDESTAL. 
 
 49. Letter from Robert Dutlley, Earl of Leicester, to Queen 
 Elizabeth. '' I most humbly besech your Majestie to pardon 
 your poore old servant to be thus bold in sending to know how 
 my gratious ladie doth and what ease of her late paine she 
 findes, being the chifest thing in this world I doe pray for, 
 for hir to have good health and longe life. For my none poore 
 case, I contynew styll your medyeyn . . . Thus hoping to 
 finde perfect cure at the Bath ... I humbly kyss your 
 foote." — Dated at Rycott on Thursday morning [29 August 
 1588]. Emflkh. Holograph. Signed; — "Your Majestie's most 
 faythfuU and obedyent servant, R. Leycester." Seal on the 
 hack, u-itJi silks. 
 
 Endorsed : — " His last letter." 
 
 The writer died at Corabury, six days after the date of this letter. 
 
 50. Letter from Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, to Queen 
 Elizabeth. " Hast, paper, to that happy presence whence only 
 unhappy I am banished. Kiss thatt fayre correcting hand 
 which layes new plasters to my lighter liurtes, butt to my 
 greatest woond applyeth nothing. Say thou cummest from 
 shaming, languishing, despayring, S.X." [6 September 1600.] 
 English. Holograph. 
 
 The initials used as a signature are a phouetic reuJering of the 
 writer's title. 
 
 51. Letter from Catherine de' Medici, Queen Dowager of 
 France, to Queen Elizabeth. Desiring credence for [Guido] 
 Cavalcanti, the bearer of a friendly communication. [April 
 1572.] French. Holograph. Signed ;— " Vostre bonne seur at 
 cousine, Caterine."
 
 PEDESTAL. 67 
 
 52. Letter from Henry iV. King of France, to Queen 
 Elizabeth. Desiring credence for the Sire de Reau, the bearer 
 of a sj)ecial communication. — Dated at Noyon, 23 August [1596]. 
 FreucJi. HolofirapJt. Slfpu'd ; — "Vostre byen humble frere et 
 plus afectyonne cervyteur, Henry." 
 
 53. Letter from William of Nassau, Prince of Orange to 
 Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England. Desiring 
 credence for Daniel Rogers, who is returning to England. — 
 Dated at Dordrecht, 21 May 1575. French. fSiffiwd ; — " Yostre 
 tresaffectione serviteur, Guill[aum]e de Nassau." S'njnet. 
 
 54. Passport issued by Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma, 
 Lieutenant Governor of the Netherlands, in favour of Captain 
 Jorch, an Englishman returning to England. — Dated at 
 Brussels, 20 March 158(3. French. Signed; — " Alexandre F." 
 Coimterugned. Seal of ar)ns. 
 
 55. Letter from Shane O'Neal to the Earl of Sussex, Lord 
 Lieutenant of Ireland, and the rest of the Council. Complaining 
 of hostile measures taken against him, and protesting his desire 
 to approach the Queen in person, and to bring the wild 
 country that he has to civility and goodness. [a.d. 1561.] 
 Irish. Siijned ;—'' Misi Onell " (I the O'Neal). 
 
 56. Letter from Hugli O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, to the Earl 
 of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of Irelajid. Concerning an intended 
 meeting with Sir William Waren. — Dated at lilackwater, 
 9 October 1599. Eufjlish. 6't>uW.— " Hugh Tiron."
 
 68 PEDESTAL. 
 
 57. Warrant from King James I. to Lord Cecil, keeper of the 
 Privy Seal, for the issue of letters patent under the (Ireat Seal, 
 authorising the King's servants, Lawrence Fletcher, William 
 Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, and six others and the rest of 
 their associates to play "comedies, tragedies, histories, enter- 
 ludes, moralles, pastoralles, stage plaies " and the like, for the 
 recreation of the King's loving subjects, and for his own solace 
 and pleasure when he shall think good to see them; the said 
 comedies, &c. to be shown publicly when the infection of the 
 plague shall decrease, in the usual house called "the Globe" in 
 Surrey and in any town-halls or other convenient places within 
 the realm, the King's servants receiving "such former courtesies 
 as hath bene given to men of their place and quality." — Dated 
 at Greenwich 17 May, in the 1st year of his reign, [a.d. 1603.] 
 English. Signet on hack. 
 
 Endorsed ; — " The Players' Privilege." 
 
 58. The answer of Edmond Spenser, gentleman, to articles 
 of the Commissioners for enquiry as to the attainted lands given 
 to " the undertakers." He has undertaken the peopling of a 
 seignory of 4,000 acres allotted to him, including the castle and 
 lands of Kilcolman and Eossack. The patent has not yet been 
 passed. At least 1,000 acres are wanting to him. He has not 
 yet made any division of his lands to his tenants. He has only 
 six households of English people upon his lands. Sundry honest 
 persons in England have promised to come over to inhabit his 
 land as soon as his patent is passed. [May 1689.] English. 
 Holograph. Signed ; — " Ed. Sp [en] ser." 
 
 The lauds assigued to the poet had belonged to the Earls of 
 Desmond.
 
 PEDESTAL. 69 
 
 59. Letter from Ben. Jonson to the Earl of Salisbury. 
 " There hath bene no want in mee, eyther of lal)or or sincerity 
 in the discharge of this biisines to the satisfaction of your 
 Lordship and the State." Yesterday, I saw "the Venetian 
 ambassador's chapHn, who not only apprehended it well, but 
 was of mind with mee that no man of conscience or any in- 
 different love to his countrey would deny to doe it, and withall 
 engaged himselfe to find out one, absolute in all num])ers, for 
 the purpose." That party, however, cannot be found. I have 
 since " made attempt in other places, but can speake with no 
 one in person (all being eyther remooved or so concealed upon 
 this present mischeife), but by second means I have receaved 
 answere . . that they will make it a question to the Arch- 
 priest." "I think they are so enweaved in it, as it will make 500 
 gentlemen lesse of the Religion within this weeke, if they carry 
 theyr understanding about them." "If I had bene a preist, I 
 would have put on wings to such an occasion, and have thought 
 it no adventure, where I might have done (besides his Majesty 
 and my countrey) all Christianity so good service." [8 November 
 1605.] English, Holograph. Signed; — "Your honour's most 
 perfect servant and lover, Ben. Jonson." 
 
 Although this letter is obscurely worded, it seems to show that the 
 writer had been instructed by the Govorament to try to i)btain from 
 the Roman Catholic clergy in Euglaiid some sort of declaration 
 coademniug the Gunpowder Plot recently discovered. 
 
 60. Anonymous letter to Lord Monteagle. Advising him, 
 as he tenders his life, " to devyse some excuse to shift of" his 
 " attendance at this parleament, for God and man bathe con- 
 curred to punishe the wickednes of this tyme." He should retire 
 into the country and there expect the event. "They shall 
 receyve a terrible blowe this parleament, and yet they shall nut
 
 70 PEDESTAL. 
 
 see who hurts them." The danger will he passed as soon as he 
 has hurned this letter. [Received '26 Octoher 1605.] Eiif/lisJi. 
 
 Tliis warning of the Gunpowder Plot is believed to have been sent 
 
 by Francis Treshani, one of the conspirators, although the writing is 
 
 not like his ordinary hand. 
 
 61. Declaration of Guy Fawkes, acknowledged hefore the 
 Lords Commissioners. Catesby proposed to have the conspirac}' 
 against the King " performed by gunpowder and by making a 
 myne under the Upi)er House of Parlement." Percy " hired a 
 house at "Westminster for that purpose, neare adjoyning to the 
 Parlement House, and there wee begunne to make our myne 
 about the 11 of December 1604." Percy, Catesby, Wynter, 
 Wright and I " first entered into the woork." "We afterwards 
 admitted Wright and Keys. " I stood as sentinell." Percy 
 afterwards hired a cellar, into which we removed "20 Imrrells of 
 powder," which we covered " with billots and fagots." About 
 Easter, we dispersed and on my return about the beginning of 
 September, " wee brought in more powder and billots." We 
 resolved that on the day on which "this act should have been 
 performed " some of our confederates should surprise the person 
 of the Lady Elizabeth, the King's daughter, in Warwickshire, 
 and presently proclaim her Queen. " Concerning Duke Charles, 
 the King's second sonne, we had sundrie consultations how to 
 sease on his person," but "wee found no meanes how tocompasse 
 it." " Other principall persons that were made privie afterwards 
 to this horrible conspiracie " were Everard Digby, knight, 
 Ambrose Piuckwood, Francis Tresham, John Grant and Piobert 
 Wynter. [Tower of London.] 17 November 1605. Emilish. 
 Signed ; — " Guido Faukes." Subscribed also by Sir Edward 
 Coke and Sir William Waad. 
 
 Sir Edward Coke was Attorney General; Sir William Waad was 
 Lieutenant of tha Tower.
 
 PEDESTAL. 71 
 
 62. Sixteen interrogatories prepared by King James I. for the 
 guidance of the commissioners appointed to examine a prisoner, 
 requiring information with regard to his name, age, origin, 
 rehgion, and personal history. The " crewallie villanouse 
 pasquil that rayled upon " the King, and prophecied his 
 destruction about the time of harvest "is lyke to be the laboure 
 of suche a desperate fellow as this is. If he will not other 
 wayes confesse, the gentler tortours are to be first used unto him, 
 et sic per c/radus nd ima tenditar. And so God speede 
 youre goode worke." [6 November 1605.] Scottish-Eiuiliiih. 
 Holograph. Signed ; — "James E." 
 
 The answers to these interrogatories are also preserved in the 
 Public Record Office. The prisoner declai'dd himself to be .John 
 Johnson, and subscribed thorn under that name. A letter found 
 upon him, however, revealed his real name to be Guy Fawkes. 
 
 63. Declaration of (xuy Fawkes, taken the 9th of November 
 and subscribed by him the 10th day ; acknowledged before 
 "the Lordes Commissioners." He states, inter alia, that he, 
 Winter, Percy, Catesby, .and Wright "tooke a solemne oath and 
 vowe " to execute their plot ;" that they did receave the Sacra- 
 ment of Gerrard the Jesuite to performe their vowe," but " that 
 Gerrard was not acquainted with their purpose"; that "the 
 plott was to blowe up the Kinge with all the nobillity about 
 him in Parlament" ; and "that there was speech emongst them to 
 drawe Sir Walter Piawley to take part with them." [Tower of 
 London. 10 November 1005.] English. Signed; — "Guide." 
 Subscribed also hi/ Sir Kdirard Coke, Sir WilVuon Wood, and 
 Ed word For sett. 
 
 The signature is believed to have been affixed aftor torture. It 
 may be compared with the fuller and firmer signature to No. 61,
 
 72 PEDESTAL. 
 
 64. Letter from Sir Walter Ealeoh to the Queen [Anne, wife of 
 
 James L] . I never sought employment in Guinea, ' ' for all the gold 
 
 in the earth could not invite me to travell after miserie and death." 
 
 I only desired to do the King "such a service as hath seildome 
 
 bine performed for any King." "My extreeme shortnes of 
 
 breath doth grow fast on me, with the dispayre of obtayning so 
 
 mich grace' to walke with my keeper up the hill within the 
 
 Tower." After eight years' imprisonment, I "am as strayghtly 
 
 lockt up as I was the first day." I "suffer for other mens 
 
 offences." I rather "desire to dye once for all, and thereby to 
 
 give end to the miseries of this life, than to strive agaynst the 
 
 ordinance of God, who is a trew Judge of my innocencie." — 
 
 [Dated at the Tower of London, 1611 or 1612.] EiujUsh. 
 
 Holograph. Signed; — "W. Ealegh." 
 
 Sir Walter Ralegh was committed to the Tower ia November 1603, 
 and released in March 1616. 
 
 65. Letter from Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, to 
 King James L In the absence of his friend [the Marquis of 
 Buckingham], he applies to the King "for a cell to retire unto." 
 This help will cost his Majesty nothing. He prays for the "goode 
 returne" of the King's "treasure abrode [the Prince of Wales] 
 which passeth all Indian fleetes." — Dated [at Gray's Inn] 
 25 March 1623. English. Holograph. Signed; — " Fs. St. 
 Albanes." 
 
 This application was made by Bacon nearly two years after his fall. 
 From another letter written by him, somewhat less carefully, on the 
 same day to Secretarj' Conway, it appears that the "cell" which he 
 desired was the Provostship of Eton. This, however, he did not 
 obtain. The Prince of Wales and the Marquis of Buckingham, the 
 great dispenser of patronage, were absent on their romantic expedition 
 to Spain.
 
 PEDESTAL. 73 
 
 66. Letter from Gustavus Adolphus, King designate of the 
 Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, to Henry, Prince of Wales. A 
 complimentary epistle, written on the departure of Eudbert 
 Stuwart, Earl of Orkney. — Dated at Stockholm, 29 October, 
 1G12. Latin. Signed; — "D[ominationis] V[estr8e] frater et 
 consanguineus charissimus, Gustavus Adolphus." Seal of arms. 
 
 Robert Stewart, mentioned in this letter, was brother of the Earl of 
 Orkney. 
 
 67. Letter from Elizabeth, Countess Palatine of the Ehine, 
 Queen of Bohemia, to her father King James L x\pologising for 
 the importunity of her letters. The Palatinate is in danger of 
 being altogether lost, unless the King will give them some help. 
 — Dated at the Hague g'^^^o-u ^^. [1621]. French. Holograph. 
 Signed ; — " De v[ostre] m[ajeste] la tres humble et tres obeissante 
 fille et servante, Elizabeth." 
 
 This was written about nine months after the crushing defeat of the 
 writer's husband, "the Winter King," at Prague, whereby he practically 
 lost the elective throne of Bohemia. His hereditary dominions had also 
 been invaded. 
 
 68. Letter from Prince Rupert to General Goring. " I shall 
 not treble you with ony greate buisenes, supposing that Secretary 
 Nicklas hath orders to acquaint you with alle particulars." 
 Some words in cypher. "We are in mutch better condition sence 
 you have brought of soe many gallant men and among them 
 your self." — Dated at Cirencester, 31 October [1G44]. English. 
 Holograph. Signed ,—" Your faithfull frend to serve you, 
 Rupert." Seal on back. 
 
 This letter was probably intercepted by the Parliamentary party. 
 
 F
 
 74 PEDESTAL. 
 
 69. Letter from Peter Paul Piubens to Sir Dudley Carleton, 
 ambassador at the Hague. Offering to exchange a selection from 
 the pictures in his house, up to the value of 6,000 florins, for a 
 collection of antiques. He adds a list of these pictures, mainly 
 by his own hand, with their respective dimensions and prices, 
 and various particulars. — Dated at Antwerp || April 1618. 
 Italian. Holograph. Signed; — " Pietro Pauolo Kubens." 
 
 70. Letter from Queen Henrietta Maria to the Earl of Carlisle. 
 Complaining that he has not written since his departure, and 
 assuring him that he will ever find her the same as she has been 
 towards him. [a.d. 1628.] French. Holograpli. Signed; — 
 "Vostre affectionne cousine et amie, Henriette Marie." Two 
 seals of arms on the hack, with silks. 
 
 Lord Carlisle went as Ambassador to Venice in April 1628. 
 
 71. A prayer, [a.d. 1632?] English. Holograph hy King 
 Charles I. 
 
 The fact that a considerable part of this prayer was incorporated in 
 the Eikon Basilike has been cited in support of the argument that 
 Charles I. was really the author of that book. It appears to have 
 been written upon the blank half-sheet of a List of Lent Preachers at 
 Com:t in 1631-2. 
 
 72. Letter from William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, to 
 King Charles L The Great Seal being left as it is, he conceives 
 that the King "will bestowe all such livinges as shall be voyed 
 and wear usuallye in the gift of the Lord l^eeper." He can 
 thus " provyde both for the Scotchmen wich suffer and for other 
 men wich have served" him at sea. The rectory of Ashen in 
 Northamptonshire is void, and the Bishop of Brechin has a son 
 "that is redye to take orders and may be fitt for it," if the 
 King approves, and thus be "some helpe to his father, who
 
 PEDESTAL. 75 
 
 certainlye needs it." Mentions his " owne unhappye condition." 
 — Dated 3 January 1640 [-41]. English. Tlolofiraph. Signed; 
 — " Your Majestyes most humble servant, though unfortunat, 
 W. Cant." 
 
 ISIarginal notes in the King's hand. 
 
 Endorsed: — "The King's warrant. Bishop of Brechen's 
 Sonne." 
 
 Lord Finch, Lord Keeper, had fled to Holland at the end of 
 December 1640, and Sir Edward Littleton was not sworn in until 
 the 17th of January following, so that there was at the date of this 
 letter no Keeper of the Great Seal. Laud had been impeached by 
 the House of Commons in December 1640. 
 
 John Whitford, son of the Bishop of Brechin, compounded for 
 First Fruits in respect of the rectory of Ashen in May 1641. He was 
 ejected in 1645, but reinstated in 1660. 
 
 73. Letter from Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, to 
 Lord [CottingtonJ . Sending news. Three things please him 
 very well. First, the Scots "are cum into Englande," and so 
 become the actual invaders. "The second is that his Ma[jes]ty 
 is resolved as yet not to hazarde his person further then Yorke. 
 The third that our men will be before them at Newcastle, and 
 soe secure the place." He himself is unwell, in consequence 
 probably of the " unseasonable weather, by meanes wherof " he 
 finds " the waters mightily risen and the wayes as foule as at 
 Christmas." — Dated at Huntingdon, Monday [24 August], 1640. 
 English. Holograph. Signed ; — " Strafforde." 
 
 Postscript : — Requesting the Committee to hasten away the 
 provisions yet in the river. 
 
 The writer, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, had been 
 appointed Lieutenant General of the Army in the North on the 18th 
 of August. His hopes with regard to Newcastle were falsified 
 within a few days.
 
 76 PEDESTAL. 
 
 74. Letter from John Pym to John Wandesforde, Consul 
 for the Enghsh at Aleppo. The time " threatens great change 
 and trouble . . . How God will dispose of me I know not ; 
 if the public peace continew, I hope to write to you again in 
 Michelmas terme." — Dated at London, 20 July 1638. English. 
 Holograph. Signed; — "Your very assured frend and servant, 
 Jo. Pym." Seal on hack. 
 
 75. Warrant from Sir Thomas Fairfax [General of the 
 Parliamentary army] to the Treasurers at War for payment to 
 Richard Cromwell, Serjeant-major of Col. Ingoldsby's regiment, 
 of 483/. 18s. M. for the pay of the officers and soldiers for 
 fourteen days. — Dated 18 April 1645. English. Signed; — 
 " Tho. Fairfax." 
 
 Pieceipt dated the same day. Signed; — " Richard Cromwell." 
 
 76. Petition of William Francklin of Boston in New 
 England, to the Protector. A ship of his going from Boston to 
 Palm Island was surprised at Fayal, in 1651, by Prince 
 Rupert. The men were sent into slavery " to the grate greife 
 of their wives, children and freinds," and the petitioner lost 
 617/. The returns which he sent from New England for pay- 
 ment of his debts were taken by the Hollanders in 1658, 
 whereby he is "greatly impoverisht." He prays for "speedy 
 releife." 
 
 Minuted hy the Protector; — "Oliver P." Addition in his 
 hand ; — " We doe referr this peticion to the consideracion of the 
 Councill of State, desiring them to give order for the peticioner's 
 releife. Whitehall, 17th May, 1655."
 
 PEDESTAL. 77 
 
 77. Letter from John Milton to "Lord" Bradshaw. There 
 will be with you to-morrow " a gentleman whose name is Mr. 
 Marvile, a man whom, both by report and the converse I have 
 had with him, [I consider] of singular desert for the state to make 
 use of, who alsoe offers himselfe if there be any imployment for 
 him. His father was the minister of Hull, and he hath spent 
 foure yeares abroad in Holland, France, Italy and Spaine to very 
 good purpose, as I beleeve, and the gaineing of those 4 languages, 
 besides he is a scholler and well read in the Latin and Greeke 
 authors, and noe doubt of an approved conversation, for he 
 comes now lately out of the house of the Lord Fairefax who was 
 Generall, where he was intrusted to give some instructions in 
 the languages to the lady his daughter. If, upon the death of 
 Mr. Wakerley, the Councell shall thinke that I shall need any 
 assistant in the performance of my place (though for my part I 
 find noe encumberance of that which belongs to me except it be 
 in point of attendance at conferences with Ambassadors, which, 
 I must confesse, in my condition, I am not fit for) it would 
 be hard for them to find a man soe fit every way for that 
 purpose as this gentleman."' I lay aside "those jealosies and 
 that ^emulation which mine owne condition might suggest to me 
 by bringing in such a coadjutor." — Date 21 February 1652 [-3]. 
 English. Holoffraph. Signed; — "Your most obliged and 
 faithfull servant, John Milton." 
 
 John Bradshaw, the regicide, was President of the Council of 
 State, to which Milton was Latin Secretary. The latter was at this 
 time suffering from a disease of the eyes, caused by over-work. 
 His desire that Andrew Marvell, the satirist should be appointed 
 his colleague was not gratified until 1657.
 
 78 PEDESTAL. 
 
 78. Letter from Cardinal de Richelieu to King Charles I. 
 Sending his congratulations upon the birth of the Prince. — 
 Dated at Grenoble, 29 June 1630. French. Signed,— 
 " Le Card[inal] De Richelieu." Seal of arms. 
 
 Charles, Prince of Wales, afterwards King Charles II. was born 
 on 29 May 1630. 
 
 79. Letter from Cardinal Mazarin to King Charles IL 
 Sending his condolences upon the death of the Princess Royal. 
 — Dated at Paris, 7 February 1661. French. Signed; — 
 "Humble et tres obeissant serviteur, Le Card[ina]l Masariny." 
 
 Mary, Princess Eoyal of Great Britain, and Princess of Orange, 
 died on 24 December 1660. 
 
 80. Warrant from King Charles IL to George, Duke of 
 Buckingham, authorising him to wear the ensigns of the Order 
 of the Garter, and to style himself a Knight, or Companion 
 thereof, as fully as if he had been installed at Windsor Castle. 
 — Dated at the Court in Castle Elizabeth, Jersey, 16 October 
 1649. English. Signed; — " Charles R." 
 
 81. Petition of Edward Bathurst, son of Sir Edward 
 Bathurst, Bart., to George, Duke of Buckingham, Chancellor 
 of the University of Cambridge. Soliciting his consent to the 
 issue of a mandatory letter for a Fellowship at Trinity College, 
 for which he had been statutably eligible for three years. 
 [June 1673.] English. 
 
 Memorandum of the Duke's approval, signed ; — " Sa Butler." 
 
 The author of Hudibras seems to have been secretary to the 
 Duke of Buckingham at this date.
 
 PEDESTAL. 79 
 
 82. Letter from Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conde, to King 
 Charles IL The King [of France] having treated with the 
 King and Queen of Poland for a marriage between m}^ son and 
 the Princess Anne, daughter of the Prince Palatine, I ought not 
 to conclude the marriage without previously asking your consent 
 to it. Her close relationship to you makes me earnestly desire 
 this alliance, — Dated at Paris, 13 November 1663. French, 
 flolof/raph. Sif/ncd ; — "De vostre Majeste tres humble et tres 
 obeissant serviteur, Louis de Bourbon," Tico seals of arms, with 
 silks. 
 
 The Princess Anne was niece to the Queen of Poland. Her father 
 was first cousin to Charles II. being the son of Elizabeth, Queen of 
 Bohemia, daughter of James I. 
 
 83. Letter from the Yicomte de Turenne to King Charles IL 
 Congratulating him on the recent naval victory and the valour 
 displayed by the Duke of York, and thanking him for giving to 
 his nephew [the Marquis] de Blanquefort the place vacated by 
 the death of the Earl of Falmouth, which he deplores. — Dated 
 at St. Germain, 21 June 1665. French. Holograph. Signed; — 
 "De v[ostre] M[ajeste] tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur, 
 Turenne." 2'ico seals of arms on the hack, witJi silks. 
 
 The EngUsh fleet, commanded by the Duke of York, had defeated the 
 Dutch in an action off Lowestoft on the 3rd of June. 
 
 84. Letter from Inigo Jones to Sir Dudley Carleton, The 
 nuisance before Scotland Gate has not been wholly taken away 
 for want of money. " There is a great summe yet behind to 
 the workmen." — Dated 15 April 163(). English. Holograph. 
 Signed ; — *' Inigo Jones."
 
 80 PEDESTAL. 
 
 85. Letter from Antonio Vandyck to [Balthasar Gerbier] the 
 Agent of England [at Brussels]. Eequesting him to suspend 
 the negotiation with the Queen Mother of France and her Highness 
 [the Infanta] touching the writer's proposed journey to England. 
 [a.d. 1632.] Italian. Holograph. Signed; — "Ant[oni]o 
 Vandyck." 
 
 Addition by Gerbier ; — "Depuis que Van Dyck m'eust escript 
 ceste lettre, [il] ne ce laissa plus veoir." 
 
 This was enclosed in a letter from Gerbier to Lord Weston, dated 
 13th March 1632, in which he complains of the " malice " of Vandyck, 
 who, after offering to take to England portraits of the Queen Mother 
 (Mary de' Medici) of France and the Infanta Isabella, had suddenly 
 changed his mind, and moreover disavowed a picture which was 
 undoubtedly painted by him. 
 
 86. Certificate by Sir Peter Lely that he believes George 
 Freeman "to be the best and fittest of any at present heare in 
 England to be employed either in makeing designs for tapestry, 
 prints, or any other inventions belonging to a history painter." — 
 Dated 23 September 1670. English. Signed,— "'P. Lely." 
 
 The artist thus commended is otherwise unknown to fame. According 
 to his own petition enclosing this certificate, his mother had been the 
 King's laundress. 
 
 87. Memorial of Christopher Wren to the Lords Commissioners 
 of the Treasury, praying for various allowances for buildings at 
 Hampton Court and Kensington and the repair of the King's 
 houses. — Dated 19 September 1689. English. Holograph. 
 Signed.— "Chi-. Wren." 
 
 88. Letter from Sir William Dugdale to Joseph Williamson. 
 Eecommending the bearer as a transcriber of records. — Dated 
 8 March 1668 [-9]. English. Holograph- Signed; — "Your most 
 humble servant Willm. Dugdale."
 
 PEDESTAL. 81 
 
 89. Letter from Edward, Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor, 
 to Sir Henry Bennet, Secretary of State. "I am confident the 
 Kinge will grante a licence to the author for the sole printiuge 
 of Hudibrasse. I pray therfore procure it for him as soone as 
 may be, for the booke is ready for the presse this minuite. The 
 licence to be for the 1, 2, and 3 parte." [a.d. 1663.] English. 
 Holograph. Signed; — "C. C." Endorsed: — "Lord Chancellor. 
 Hudibras." 
 
 The first part of Butler's Hudibras was issued early in 1663 ; 
 the licence for the second part was granted in Xovember of that year. 
 
 90. Letter from .John Strype to George Holmes, lodging at 
 a sword-cutler's in Fleet Street, near the Temple. Requesting 
 him to consult the Liberate Roll of 25 Henry HL for an entry 
 concerning the Great Tower, which he believes to be the White 
 Tower, and the Patent Roll of 16 Henry YL for an entry 
 concerning the keeper of the lions. — Dated at Low Leyton, 
 28 October 1704. English. Holograph. Signed. Triangular 
 post-mark on the hack. 
 
 The documents mentioned are now in the Public Record Office. 
 
 91. Letter from Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, 
 Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. Returning letters of 
 summons to all the knights companions of the Order, except 
 three who cannot attend. " The Garter King at Amies is quite 
 superannuated, and the Black Rod is not acquainted with our 
 forms, but one of the heralds, Mr. Stebbing, understands them 
 best, and is the only man of that body to be depended on." 
 He could put all things in order and prepare the necessary 
 warrants. — Dated at Salisbury, 19 October 1712. English. 
 Holograph. Sigued ; — "Gilbert S."
 
 82 PEDESTAL. 
 
 92. Letter from John Sobieski, King of Poland, to King 
 Charles 11. Thanking him for his promise to stand godfather 
 to his daughter now dead. God, after afflicting him by 
 taking her away, has made him glad by the birth of another, 
 and he hopes that the King will do him the like favour 
 with regard to her, in conjunction with the Queen of 
 France, who will be godmother. — Dated at Cracow, 8 March 
 1676. French. Holograph. Signed; — " Vostre tres affectionne 
 frere, Jean R." Two seals on the hack with silks. 
 
 Endorsed ;-l^^^ ml 
 
 93. Letter from Louis XIV. King of France, to King 
 
 James IL Eequesting credence for the Marquis de Torcy, 
 
 whom he is sending to express his condolence on the death of 
 
 the Duchess Dowager of Modena. — Dated at Versailles, 27 
 
 August 1687. French. Hologra2)h. Signed; — "Vostre bon 
 
 frere, Louis." 
 
 Laura, Duchess of Modena, recently deceased, was the mother-in- 
 law of James II. 
 
 94. Letter from William Henry, Prince of Orange, to his 
 uncle, King Charles II. Thanking him for his protection and 
 for midertaking to be his guardian, and begging him to obtain 
 for him the position enjoyed by his ancestors in the Provinces of 
 Holland. — Dated at Leyden, 2 February 1661. French. Holo- 
 graph. Signed; — " De vostre Majeste, le tres humble et tres 
 obeissent neveu et serviteur, Guillaume H. Pr[ince] d'Orange.", 
 
 The writer was at this time very little more than ten years of 
 age, and was a student at Leyden. His mother, Mary, daughter of 
 Charles I. had died on the 24th of December, 1660, leaving him an 
 orphan.
 
 PEDESTAL. 83 
 
 95. Letter from King Jaraes II. to his son-in-law, tlie Prince 
 of Orange. " Now the Duke of Monmouth is brought up hither 
 with Lord Gray and the Brandenburger. The two tirst desired 
 very earnestly to speak with me, as having things of importance 
 to say to me, which they did, but did not answer my expectation 
 in what they sayd to me. The Duke of Monmouth seemed more 
 concerned and desirous to live, and did behave himself not so 
 well as I expected, nor so as one ought to have expected from 
 one who had taken upon him to be King. I have signed the 
 warrant for his execution tomorrow. For Lord Grey, he apeared 
 more resolut and engenius, and never so much as once asked 
 for his life. His execution cannot be so soone by reason of some 
 forms which are requisite to be complyd with."" — Dated at 
 Whitehall, 14 July 1685. English. Holograph. Signet. 
 
 This letter was written eight days after the defeat of the Duke 
 of Monmouth at the battle of Sedgemoor. The Brandenburger 
 mentioned in it was Anthony Buyse. 
 
 96. Letter from Queen Mary to her son-in-law, the Prince of 
 Orange. " God be thanked, hear is an end of all troubles, and 
 in succh a maner as that wee may hope never to see the like 
 again as long as wee live." — Dated at Whitehall, 17 July [1685]. 
 English. Holograph. Signed ; — " Truly and sincerely yours 
 M. R." Signet. 
 
 This letter was written two days after the execution of the Duke of 
 Monmouth. 
 
 97. Letter from Samuel Pepys to the Commissioners of the 
 Navy. "The illnesse of the ways and height of the waters 
 made it Sunday morning before I could reach Norwich," and 
 the Court being gone thence to Lord Townsend's, I could not
 
 84 PEDESTAL. 
 
 find the King and the Duke [of York] together until Thursday. 
 The Duke approves of your advice about the Cotistant 
 Waricick. — Dated at Newmarket, 7 October 1671. English. 
 Holograph. Signed; — " Your most humble servant, S. Pepys." 
 
 This letter was written more than two years after Pepys had, on 
 account of his failing eyesight, discontini^ed the keeping of his Diary 
 in cypher. 
 
 98. Memorial of Isaac Newton, to the Lords Commissioners 
 of the Treasury. Asking for orders concerning medals for the 
 coronation [of Queen Anne]. "The silver medals may be 22, 
 and the gold 20, in the pound weight Troy. If a pound weight 
 were divided into 18 medals, they would take the impression 
 better, for the former gold medals were too thin. The coynage 
 duty, in the opinion of Mr. Attorney General, being not applic- 
 able to this service, other money will be requisite." [April, 
 1702.] English. Holograph. Signed ; — " Is. Newton." 
 
 The writer was at this time Master of the Mint. 
 
 99. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Earl of 
 Sunderland, Lord President of the Council, and Lord Lieutenant 
 of Warwickshire. Announcing the Queen's delivery "of a 
 hopefull sonn," and desiring him to communicate the news to 
 his Deputy Lieutenants and others, to the end that all may 
 join in solemn thanksgiving for so inestimable a blessing and in 
 " other expressions of publick rejoyceing." — Dated at Whitehall, 
 10 June 1688. English. Signed by Lord Jeffreys, Chancellor, 
 and eight others. 
 
 This relates to the birth of the prince commonly known as " the 
 Old Pretender."
 
 PEDESTAL. 85 
 
 100. Letter from Daniel Defoe to the Earl of Nottingham, 
 Secretary of State. Apologising for his concealment, praying for 
 the Queen's mercy, and offering either to serve as a volunteer in 
 the Netherlands or to raise a troop of horse at his own charge, 
 under a sentence a little more tolerable to him as a gentleman 
 than "prisons, pillorys and such like," which are worse to him 
 than death. — Dated 9 January 1702 [-03] . English. Holograph. 
 Signed; — "Your most obedient, distressed, humble peticioner 
 and servant, De Foe." Seal on back. 
 
 A reward for the apprehension of Defoe was offered in the London 
 Gazette of the next day, and he was put in the pillory for three days in 
 July following, on account of his pamphlet entitled — The shortest uay 
 with the Dissetiters. 
 
 101. Letter from Matthew Prior [to James Vernon] . Con- 
 cerning the arrival of troops. " This day a servant maid who 
 lived in the common prison of the Hague was whipt here publickly. 
 Her condemnation was that she had secretly conveyed letters to 
 some prisoners." "I wish I knew my master's resolution, but, 
 as Trapelin says, no man is obliged to tell another his opinion 
 till he knows it himself." — Dated at the Hague, 2 April, N.S. 
 [16] 94. English. Holograph. Signed;— ''M. l^rior." 
 
 The writer was at this time secretary to Viscount Dursley, Envoy 
 Extraordinary to the Hague. 
 
 102. Letter from Sir Richard Steele [to the Secretary of 
 State] . Recommending John RoUos, an excellent engraver and 
 an officer in the Stamp Office, who "has had a very pretty thought 
 for the more commodious dresse of women, and is willing to go 
 to the charge of a patent to ensure it to himself." — Dated 22 
 August 1717. English. Holograph. Signed; — "Your most 
 obedient and most humble servant, Richard Steele."
 
 86 PEDESTAL. 
 
 103. Letter from Joseph Addison to the Earl of Sunderland 
 [Secretary of State]. Concerning an agitation among the clergy 
 in Ireland, and the salaries of the officers of the Irish House of 
 Lords.— Dated at Dublin Castle, 20 July 1709. English. 
 Holograph. Signed; — "Your Lordship's most obedient and 
 most humble servant, J. Addison." 
 
 The writer was secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 
 
 104. Convention between John, Duke of Marlborough, on 
 
 behalf of Queen Anne, and Prince Eugene, on behalf of the 
 
 Emperor, with regard to the despatch of troops to Spain. — 
 
 Dated at the Hague, 14 April 1708. French. Signed; — "Le 
 
 Pr[ince] et Due de Marlborough"; " Eugene de Savoye." Two 
 
 seals of arms. 
 
 Marlborough had been created Prince of Mindelheim in 1705. For 
 his ordinary signature, see No. 105. 
 
 105. Letter from John, Duke of Marlborough [to Robert Harley, 
 Secretary of State], Announcing the victory at Blenheim, and 
 the capture of M. de Tallard, nearly twelve hundred other 
 officers, over eight thousand common soldiers, and about a 
 hundred standards, on the previous day. Dated at Hochstadt, 
 14 August [N.S.] 1704. English. Dictated, corrected and signed 
 by the Duke. 
 
 Holograph postscript. — "I am soe very much out of order 
 for want of rest that you will excuse my making use of Mr. 
 Cardonel's hand." 
 
 Endorsed by Harley witJi note of receipt by express, 
 13 August [O./S.]. 
 
 Adam Cardonel was secretary to Marlborough.
 
 PEDESTAL. 87 
 
 106. Letter from Frederick, King of Prussia, to King 
 George III. Sending condolences on the death of the King 
 his uncle [George II.], in whom he loses a relation, a friend and a 
 faithful ally, and expressing his own zeal for the advancement 
 of the common cause. — Dated at Meissen, 7 November 1760. 
 French. Holograph. Signed; — " De votre Majeste le bon 
 frere, Federic." Written on black-edged papei\ 
 
 107. Letter from the Empress Maria Theresa to King 
 George II. Mentioning the coronation on the previous day and 
 the defeat of the Bavarians near Braunau. [5 October 1745.] 
 French. Holograph. Signed: — " De votre majeste bonne 
 soeure et cousine, Marie Therese." 
 
 108. Letter from Louis XVI. King of France, to King 
 George III. Re-credentials for Mr. [William] Eden, about to 
 be transferred to the embassy in Spain. — Dated at Versailles, 
 7 April 1788. French. Signed ,—'' Lonis.'' Tiro seals of 
 arms, ivith silks. 
 
 109. Letter from Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, to 
 King George III. Condoling with him on the death of his 
 ])rother, Henry Frederic, Duke of Cumberland. — Dated at Paris, 
 15 October 1790. French. Signed; — "Marie Antoinette." 
 Seal of arms, with silks.
 
 88 
 
 FRAMES. 
 
 N. Charter, or privilege, of Alfonso X. King of Castile, 
 
 Toledo, Leon, &c. Ceding to his brother-in-law Edward — 
 
 eldest son of Henry III. King of England — whom he has 
 
 knighted, all his rights in Gaseony, whether derived from King 
 
 Henry II. and Eleanor his wife, or from King Richard or King 
 
 John. — Dated at Burgos, 1 November 1254, and granted by 
 
 King Alfonso, Queen Yolant, his wife, and the Infant 
 
 Berengaria, his daughter. Confirmed by seven Infants of 
 
 Spain, the Archbishop of Compostella, the three vassal 
 
 Moorish Kings of Granada, Murcia, and Niebla, twenty-three 
 
 bishops and thirty-eight officers of state, notaries and others. 
 
 "' Siyno rodado.'" Solid golden bulla, appended tcith cords oj 
 
 yreen and gold silk. 
 
 The original cylindrical case for this charter, hanging beneath it, 
 consists of two pieces of hollowed wood connected by a leathern 
 hinge. According to a tradition at the Chapter House, Westminster, 
 the will of Henry VIII. was for a time concealed in it. 
 
 O. Diploma of King Charles II. creating his natural son 
 James, Duke of Monmouth, and the heirs male of his body to 
 be begotten of Anne, Countess of Buccleugh, Dukes of Buccleugh, 
 Earls of Dalkeith, Lords Scot of Whitchester and Eskdale, with 
 remainder to the heirs of his body who shall succeed to the 
 estates and earldom of Buccleugh. — Dated at Whitehall, 20 
 April 1663. Latin. Illuminated with portrait of the King, the 
 royal arms, dc. Fragment of Great Seal of Scotland, appended. 
 
 This diploma was issued on the day of the marriage of the Duke of 
 Monmouth to the Countess of Buccleugh, when they were respectively
 
 FRAMES. 89 
 
 fourteen and twelve years of age. The Duke's English honours were 
 forfeited by his attainder in July 1685. His wife, however, retained 
 the Scottish dignities. 
 
 P. Grant by Christopher Barker, Garter King of Arms, to 
 Roger Starkey of London, mercer, of the arms depicted in the 
 margin. — Dated at London, 27 June 1543. English . Signed. 
 lUiiininated. Two seals appended. 
 
 Q,. Grant by Thomas Wrythe, alla>i ^^'ryothesley, Garter 
 King of Arms, and Roger ]\[achado, otherwise called " Riche- 
 mont," Clarenceux King of Arms, to Richard Weynman of 
 Witney, co. Oxford, gentleman, of the arms, crest, &c. depicted 
 in the margin. — Dated at London, 20 September 1509. Freneh. 
 Two signatures. Illuminated. Two seals appended. 
 
 R. Letters of King Edward IIL conferring on his eldest son, 
 Edward, Prince of "Wales, the title of Prince of Aquitaine, and 
 granting to him the principality of Aquitaine and Gascony, 
 with certain possessions and high prerogatives. — Dated at 
 Westminster, 19 July VMVl. Latin. Jlirhli/ ilhiininated. 
 Great Seal appended. 
 
 The quarterly shield in the initial letter bears the normal arms 
 of Edward. Prince of Wales. Another shield in the upper right- 
 hand corner shows three white ostrich feathers, detached and upright, 
 each charged with a scroll inscribed " Ich dien." This is the earliest 
 representation of the shield " for peace " of this Prince. The three 
 ostrich feathers were afterwards brought together, united by a single 
 scroll, and adopted as the badge of successive Princes of Wales. An 
 angel below this second shield on the document carries a scroll bear- 
 ing the motto of the Order of the Garter, which had been instituted 
 about thirteen yeai's previously.
 
 90 FRAMES. 
 
 S, Grant by Thomas Wryotesley, Garter King of Arms, and 
 Thomas Benolt, Clarenceux King of Arms, to Master Richard 
 Pace, " the kynges high and principall secretary," of the 
 arms depicted in the margin. — Dated at London, 12 February 
 1517 [-18]. English. Two signatures. Illuminated. Tico 
 seals appended. 
 
 T. Bull of Pope Clement VII. confirming to King Henry VIII. 
 
 the title of " Defender of the Faith," conferred on him by 
 
 Pope Leo X.— Dated at St. Peter's Rome, 3 Non. Mart. 1524. 
 
 Signed hy James Sadolet. Solid golden bulla hy Benvenuto 
 
 Cellini. 
 
 The bull of Leo X. conferring the title of " Defender of the Faith " 
 on Henry VIII. in 1521, having been appropriated by Sir Robert 
 Cotton, was almost entirely destroyed in the fire at his library in 1731. 
 Neither that document nor this bull of confirmation makes the title 
 hereditary. The use of it by subsequent Kings and Queens of England 
 is, however, warranted by an Act of Parliament passed in 1544. 
 
 U. Bull of Pope Honorius III. confirming the privileges of 
 the Scottish Church as subject only to the Apostolic See. — 
 Dated at the Lateran 11 Kal. Dec. 1218. Latin. " Rota," sub- 
 scription and ^' Benevalete" of the Pope, and crosses and 
 subscriptions oj twelve Cardinals. Leaden bulla appended 
 ivith cords of variegated silk. 
 
 This document belongs to the class known as Great Bulls, the 
 previous one being a Little Bull. The " Rota " consists of two con- 
 centric circles enclosing a cross showing in the upper half the names 
 of SS. Peter and Paul and in the lower half the name of the reigning 
 Pope, whose motto is given between the circles. The subscriptions 
 of Pope and Cardinals alilie consist of the letters " SS " in monogram 
 for " subscripsi." The word " Benevalete " is also compressed into a 
 monogram.
 
 FRAMES. 91 
 
 V. Grant by Thomas Hawley, Clarenceux King of Arms, to 
 David Poole, Bishop of Peterborough, of the arms depicted in 
 the margin. — Dated at London, 15 Jmie, 3 and 4 PhiHp and 
 Mary [1557]. English. Signed. Illuminated. Seal aiijiended. 
 
 W. Account of money received and paid for public use in 
 Ireland from November 1649 to November 1656. English. 
 Illiuninated with the arms of the Coinmomvealth, a portrait oj 
 the Protector and eighteen shields oJ arms^ 
 
 X. Roll of the proceedings relating to the coronation of 
 Queen Victoria, 2 April — 28 June 1838. Schedule attached 
 containing the form of the oaths administered by the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, in Westminster Abbey. Signed; — 
 " Victoria R." 
 
 Y. Letters patent of King William IIL appointing Sidney, 
 Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, knight, and Charles Montague 
 and John Smith, esquires, to be commissioners for executing the 
 office of Treasurer of the Exchequer. — Dated at Westminster, 
 1 November in the 7th year of his reign, [a.d. 1695.] English. 
 Illuminated with portrait of the King. Great Seal appended. 
 
 Z. Stamps from the covers of books formerly belonging to 
 various Departments of State. 
 
 AA. The like. 
 
 BB. Stamps from the covers of books formerly belonging to 
 the Board of Ordnance.
 
 92 I'll.lMHS, 
 
 CC- Stamps from the covers of books formerly belonging to : 
 The Board of Admh-alty (an anchor). 
 The Yictualling Board (two anchors). 
 The Navy Board (three anchors). 
 The Treasurer of the Navy (an anchor and two keys). 
 
 DD. Letters patent of King Henry YIII. granting to "William 
 Bede, citizen and mercer of London, and Anne his wife, the 
 manor of Beccles co. Suffolk, and granting to him the site of the 
 house of "White Friars at Blakeney co. Norfolk. Dated at "West- 
 minster, 6 February in the 33rd year of his reign, [a.d. 1542.] 
 Latin. lUumiuated intlt representation of tJie Kin;/ f/rantinfi this 
 document to William Rede, icJio kneels witli Jiis icife and cliild. 
 
 EE. Letters patent of King Edward VL establishing and 
 endowing a free grammar school in the town of Morpeth. — 
 Dated at "Westminster, 12 March in the 6th year of his reign. 
 [a.d. 1552.] Latin. Illuminated uith portrait of tJie Kin(j 
 enthroned, tJie royal arms, and the arms of the tou-)i of ^Ln-petli 
 and of Luord. Dacre. 
 
 PF. Coloured woodcut portrait of Martin Luther, with verses 
 
 beneath in Latin and German, a.d. 1546. 
 
 This was forwarded in a letter from John Dymock dated at Bremen 
 23 July 1546, in which he says: — " I do send yow a provysye made be 
 Martyn Luther in his latter dayes."
 
 i);3 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. 
 
 I. Oak chest bound with iron, divided into four compart- 
 ments, each with a separate lock. [Thirteenth century.] 
 
 This was formerly kept in the Chapel of the Pyx, Westminster. 
 
 IT. Chestnut chest with three locks. 
 
 This was formerly kept in the Chapel of the Pyx. 
 
 III. Large oak chest with two locks and a staple and hasp. 
 [Fourteenth century.] 
 
 This was formerly kept in the Chapel of the Pyx. An inscription 
 in chalk —" Tryal pieces "—shows that it was used in connection with 
 the Trial of the Pyx. The hinges are interesting. 
 
 IV. A circular case of ciiir houilli hound with iron. 
 [Fourteenth century.] 
 
 This was formerly kept at the Chapel of the Pyx, and contained a 
 silver bason. Compare No. HH. 
 
 V. A case containing : — 
 
 a. A turned wooden skippet inscribed: — ''Litera episcopi 
 Herefordensis pro Johanne de IMawardin et Is. uxore ejus." 
 \Cirra A.I). 1300.] 
 
 b. A turned wooden skippet inscribed: — '"Continet cartas 
 Thome de Holand. comitis Kancie. ' [a.d. 1800-181)7.]
 
 94 MISCKLLAXKOUS OBJECTS. 
 
 C. A hanaper containing deeds relating to Berkhamstead, 
 with an original parchment label stating that they were 
 acquired by the King from Denise, late the wife of William 
 Sutton. 
 
 Among the Memoranda of the Treasury, there is a contemporary 
 note that the deeds still preserved in this hanaper were placed 
 therein on 15 February, 3 Richard II. [a.d. 1380]. 
 
 d. An oval chip-box with inscription stating that it 
 contained two deeds relating to Curry Malet, Stoke under 
 Hamdon, and other places, [a.d. 1443.] 
 
 e. A turned wooden skippet inscribed : — " Essex. Thearle 
 of Oxfordes deade of departing from the forreste of Waltham, 
 anno 12 H. 8. Pro vita regis," [a.d. 1520-1521.] 
 
 f. A round chip-box, lined with paper, and covered with 
 dark-green leather. The lid is ornamented with a rose 
 crowned and inscribed " Vivat Regina." The lower part is 
 inscribed: — "Maria Regina Dei gracia A. F. Y." [a.d. 1553- 
 1554.] 
 
 "A" stands for "Anglie," "F" for " Francie," and "Y" for 
 " Ybernie." 
 
 g. An oval chip-box, painted with figures. [Seventeenth 
 century.] 
 
 h. A box for deeds covered with dark leather. [Sixteenth 
 century.] 
 
 i. Two knives, found among the public records. 
 
 VI. A box bound with elaborate iron work. [Fifteenth 
 century.] 
 
 This probably contained jewels.
 
 MISCKLLAXKOL'S OBJ EC IS. 95 
 
 VII, Two leather cases ornamented with the badges of 
 Henry YII. [a.d. 1504.] 
 
 These formerly contained the volumes relating to the Chapel of 
 Henry VII. which are exhibited in Case E. Nos. 53, 54. 
 
 VIII. A case of cidr hoidlli. [Fourteenth century.] 
 This formerly contained a silver ewer. Compare No. IV. 
 
 IX. Pine chest with arched cover, plated and bound with iron. 
 Lock, hasped cover for lock, two hasps for padlocks. Two 
 handles on each long side, and bars and rings for slinging at 
 either end. Six iron feet, [Fourteenth century ?] 
 
 X, Case containing dies for coins : — 
 
 .Durham. Penny of the Bishop's mint. [Thomas Hatfield, 
 A.D. 1351-1381.] 
 
 York. Groat, [a.d. 1351-1360.] 
 York. Half-groat, [a.d. 1351-1360.] 
 York. Penny, [a.d. 1351-1360.] 
 
 York. Penny of the Archbishop's mint. [a.d. 1351-1360?] 
 York. Penny of the Archbishop's mint. [a.d. 1377-1399,] 
 Kose noble of Edward IV. [a.d. 1465.] 
 
 Crown of Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, Countess of Flanders. 
 [a,d, 1477-1482.] 
 
 Dies when no longer required for use at local mints were formerly 
 sent up to the Royal Treasury at Westminster. There are accordingly 
 many disused dies at the Public Record Othce. They were used in the 
 following way : The die for the obverse was fastened by means of the 
 spike into a block of wood ; upon it was placed a blank coin cut out of 
 a narrow strip of metal by means of shears ; the puncheon, or die for 
 the reverse, was held by means of a twisted withe inuuediately over the 
 blank and then struck with a hammer. The die for the crown of the 
 Duchess of Burgundy may have been sent over from Flanders as a 
 specimen.
 
 96 MLSC KLL. 1 MlO IS OBJECTS. 
 
 XI. Case containing specimens of records in various stages of 
 decay. 
 
 X[r. Case containing seals formerly attached to a letter from 
 Barons and others assembled in Parliament at Lincoln to Pope 
 Boniface VIII.. determining that tlie King of England ought not 
 to submit to his judgement concerning the dominion of Scotland, 
 12 February 1801, as follows : — 
 
 a. John de Wareinie, earl of Surrey Thomas, earl of 
 Lancaster, Leicester and Ferrers. 
 
 b. Ralph de Monthermer, earl of Gloucester and Hertford '\ 
 Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford and Essex, constable of 
 England. 
 
 C. Roger Bigod, earl of Norfolk and marshal of England Guy 
 de Beauchamp. earl of Warwick. 
 
 d. Richard, earl of Arundel Aymar de Valence, lord of 
 Montignac ; William de Ley bourn. 
 
 e. Henry de Lancaster, lord of Monmouth || Edmund de 
 IVlortimer, lord of AVigmore ; Fulk Fitz Warin, lord of Whit- 
 tmgton. 
 
 f. Theol)ald de Verdun, lord of A\'eobley, constable of Ireland ; 
 John de Beauchamp, lord of Hatch |i John de Segrave ; AVilliam 
 de Ferrers, lord of Groby ; Robert de Touny, lord of Painscastle. 
 
 g. John de St. John, lord of Plalnaker ; Robert Fitz Walter, 
 lord of Woodham ; Thomas de Berkele ; John de Suleye. 
 
 h. William le Latimer, lord of Corby ; Richard Talebot, lord 
 of Eccleswall : John de Hodleston, lord of Aneys |i William de 
 Breouse, lord of Gower and Bramber ; John de Boutort, lord of 
 Mendlesham.
 
 MISCELLAXEOVS OBJECTS. 97 
 
 i. lio))eit lie Clitfortl, castellan of Appleby; Nicholas de Carreu, 
 lord of Moulsford ; Emer}' de St. Amand, lord of Woodhay || 
 Brian Fitz Alan, lord of Bedale ; Peter Corbet, lord of Cause. 
 
 k. Reynold de Grey, lord of Ruthyn ; John de Moeles, lord of 
 Cadbury || John de Hastings, lord of Aljergavenny ; Edmund de 
 Hastings, earl of Menteith, lord of Inchmahome. 
 
 ]. Robert de Mounalt, lord of Hawarden; Hugh Poynz, lord 
 of Curry Malet ; Henry le Teiheis, lord of Chilton |1 Hugh de 
 Yere, lord of Swanscombe, Henry Tregoz, lord of Goring; 
 William Touchet, lord of Levenhales. 
 
 m. Robert de Tateshale, lord of Buckenham ; John Lovel, lord 
 of Docking |1 John le Strange, lord of Knockin ; Robert de la 
 Warde, lord of Whitehall ; William de Cantilupe, lord of 
 Raven sthorpe. 
 
 n. Hugh Bardolf, lord of Wormegay ; Thomas de Moulton, 
 lord of Egremont Walter de Huntercombe ; Edmund, baron of 
 Btafitbrd. 
 
 c. John de Havering, loi'd of Grafton ; Walter de Teye, lord 
 of Stouegrave || Alan la Souche, lord of Ashby ; Walter de 
 Beauehamp, lord of Alcester. 
 
 p. Roger de Mortimer, lord of Penkelly Eustace de Hacche ; 
 William Martin, lord of Kernes. 
 
 q. Adam de Welle Gilbert Peche, lord of Corby. 
 
 r. William Paynell, lord of Trotton Thomas de Euruival, 
 lord of Sheffield ; John le Breton, lord of Sporle. 
 
 s. Ralph de Nevile, lord of Puxby ; Ralph de Grendon ; John 
 de Moun, lord of Dunster. 
 
 t. Thomas de ChaAvorth, lord of Norton ; Robert de Scales, 
 lord of Newbollb.
 
 98 MLSCELLAXEOUS OBJECTS. 
 
 U. Simon de Montagu ; Peter de Mauley the third, lord of 
 Mulgrave | Philip de Kyme ; John Paynell, lord of Otley. 
 
 W. Edmund de Eyncourt, lord of Thurgarton ; William 
 Marshal, lord of Hingham | Henry de Pinkeny, lord of Weedon; 
 Matthew Fitz John, lord of Stokenham ; Thomas de la Roche. 
 
 X. Robert Hastang, lord of LaDesiree John de Kingeston. 
 
 y. Walter de Faucunberge; Roger le Estrange, lord of EUes- 
 mere , John Fitz Marmaduke, lord of Hordene ; Bevis de 
 Knovile, lord of Oswestry ; Fulk de Estrange, lord of Corfham. 
 
 z. John de Lonecaster, lord of Grisedale ; Hugh Fitz Henry, 
 lord of Ravensworth \\ John de Greystok, lord of Morpeth ; 
 Roger de Huntingfeld, lord of Bradenham, 
 
 A contemporary Wardrobe Account records payments for the 
 purchase of silk and green wax for seals to be attached to this letter 
 and of horses for a messenger sent to the Marches of Wales to get the 
 seals of some of the magnates. It is, however, doubtful whether the 
 letter was ever despatched. There are two copies of it in the Public 
 Kecord Office, both in bad condition. The seals here exhibited have 
 long been detached from the documents. 
 
 XIII. Case containing the seals formerly attached to the 
 duplicate of the foregoing letter from the Barons to the Pope, 
 with eight additional seals, as follows :— 
 
 Henry de Percy, lord of Topclift". 
 
 John son of Reynold, lord of Blaenllynfi. 
 
 Robert Fitz Payn, lord of Launver. 
 
 Henry de Grey, lord of Codnor. 
 
 William de Ros, lord of Helmsley |1 Walter de Mounci, lord of 
 
 Thornton. 
 Ralph Fitz William, lord of Grimthorpe || Nicholas de Meynill, 
 
 lord of Whorlton.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. 99 
 
 The seals of Walter de Beauchamp and John le Breton are missing 
 from this series. Neither series has seals of the following persons 
 named in the letter : — Robert Fitz Roger, lord of Clavering ; Roger la 
 Warre, lord of Isfield ; John de Rivers, lord of Ongar ; Ralph Pipard, 
 lord of Linford ; John Engayn, lord of Colne ; John ab Adam, lord of 
 Beverstone ; Nicholas de Segrave, lord of Stowe and John de Lisle, lord 
 of Wootton. 
 
 XIV. A pair of wooden doors for a large press, one of which 
 bears the following inscription : — " Annis regnorimi Philippi et 
 Marie 2° et 3°, this place and the rest of this office was stab- 
 Ijshed by the righte honorable W. Marques of Wynchester and 
 Highe Treasourer of England, for keepinge of all Pelles of 
 Receiptes and Exitus of the Courte of Receiptes called Inferius 
 Scaccarium, and of all warraunts and wrytyngs belonging to the 
 same and accordynge to thauncyent ordre therof, And also of 
 certayne orders and rules of late yeres neglected and now agayne 
 renewed from hennesforthe to be observed of all and every 
 offycer of the said courte contayned in the redde booke of this 
 said office made for the same intent. Edmonde Cockerell 
 gent than the said Lord Treasourers clerk wryter and keper of 
 the Pelles, warrants and writyngs aforesaid. Anno Domini 1555." 
 
 XV. Wooden box covered with leather and bound with iron. 
 [Sixteenth century.] 
 
 This was formerly kept in the Chapel of the Pyx. 
 
 XVI. Stoneware jug. 
 
 This was found in the excavations made for the extension of the 
 Public Record Office in 1895. 
 
 XVII. Large jar of red pottery. [Spanish or Italian. Seven- 
 teenth century.] 
 
 This was found in one of the vaults of the Rolls Chapel in lb95.
 
 100 .1//.S( ELLA NEO I 'S OBJEA ' TS. 
 
 XVIII. stoneware jug. 
 
 This was found in the excavations made foi' the extension of the 
 Public Record Office in 1895. 
 
 XIX. Wooden chest covered with red leather and bound with 
 iron, with two locks, and cover of semi-hexaf^onal section. 
 [Sixteenth century.] 
 
 Tliis was formerly kept in the Chapel of the Vy\. 
 
 XX. A painted wooden coti'er, inscribed on the lid: — "Hie 
 continentur obligaciones super deliberacione et redempcione 
 domini David Brus, die iij mensis Octobris [anno Domini 
 mcccjlvij." Traces of four shields on the lid and two shields 
 on the front, [a.d. 1357-1361.] 
 
 Two of the shields on the lid appear to be those of Scotland and 
 England. The left-hand shield on the front is presumably that of 
 John de Coupland, warden of Berwick. 
 
 XXI. A similar cotter, inscribed on the lid :■ — "Pax facta Cales 
 inter reges et regna Angiie et Francie die [xxiv mensis Octobris 
 anno Domini mccclx]." Traces of six shields on the lid and 
 four shields on the front, [a.d. 13G0-1361.] 
 
 Two of the shields on the lid are obliterated. The others appear 
 to be those of the Dauphin, France, England, and the Prince of 
 Wales. The left-hand shield on the front is that of John de 
 Buckingham, and the next, that of Guy de Bi'yan. 
 
 There is a note in the Memoranda of the Treasury that two coffers, 
 with keys, bound with iron, decorated with divers shields, and marked 
 as containing documents with regard to the peace made at Calais and 
 the release of David Brus, were placed in the Great Treasury in a 
 little red press on 10 November, 06 Edward III. according to the 
 reckoning of the Exchequer [a.d 1316 \ The documents formerly 
 preserved in these coffers, in the Chapel of the Pyx at Westminster, 
 are now in the Public Record Office. Two of those relating to the 
 peace made at Calais may be seen in Case J>. Nos. H4, 35,
 
 MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. 101 
 
 XXII. A mediaeval ' hanaper,' or hamper. 
 
 XXIII. A large chest cased, lined, and bound with iron, with 
 remains of three locks. 
 
 This is traditionally the chest in which Domesday Book was kept 
 in the Palace of Westminster and afterwards in the Chapter House. 
 
 XXIV. A pair of leather l)ottles known as " l)laek jacks." 
 
 XXV. Key of the Rolls Chapel, and ke^'s of various ancient 
 lockers or chests. 
 
 XXVI. Various old tallies and pouches for records.
 
 CATALOGUE 
 
 OF 
 
 MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 AND OTHER OBJECTS 
 
 IN THE 
 
 MUSEUM 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, 
 
 WITH 
 
 BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL NOTES. 
 
 BY 
 
 Sir H. C. MAXWELL LYTE, K.C.B. 
 
 DEPUTY KEEPER OF THE RECORDS. 
 
 FOURTH EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, 
 
 BY MACKIE & CO, LD., 2, Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, E.C. 
 
 And to be purchased, eit.lier directly or tlirough any Bookseller, from 
 WYMAN AND SONS, LD., Pettkr Lane. B.C.; or 
 OLIVER AND BOYD, T\vekj)DALe Court, Edinbiihou; or 
 E. PCNSONBY. 116, Guaiton Street, Dublin. 
 
 km- 
 
 Price Sixpence.
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 
 
 i£C=0YRLAPR05lW 
 
 w. 
 
 1979 
 
 Form L-9-15m-7,'32
 
 CD 
 1047 Gt. Brit. 
 ■ M97 
 
 3 1158 00424 5303 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 001 211 434 4 
 
 From the 
 
 Thomas Frederick Tout 
 
 Library 
 
 llmVERSlTY of CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOB ANGJfeiLES 
 fJBRAKY