Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Harvard Law School Library

  • HLS MS 149 (Hollis No. 005513301)

    A folio composite volume of political and legal tracts, in various professional hands, 107 leaves, in contemporary vellum boards.

    Bookplates of Francis Wilkinson and of the Rt. Hon. George Rose (d.1818). From the library of Hugh Campbell, Earl of Marchmont.

    Baker, No. 538 (pp. 111-12).

    • CtR 124 Last item

      Copy, as written by Sr Robt Cotten to Sr Edward Mountague Anno: i621, on eight leaves.

      Tract, the full title sometimes given as A Brief discourse prouinge that the house of Comons hath Equall power with the Peeres in point of Judicature written by Sr Rob: Cotton to Sr Edward Mountague Ano Dni. 1621, beginning Sir, To give you as short an accompt of your desire as I can.... First published in London, 1640. Cottoni posthuma (1651), pp. [341]-351.

      Sir Robert Cotton, A Briefe Discovrse concerning the Power of the Peeres and Commons of Parliament in point of Judicature

  • HLS MS 1026, Vol. I (Hollis No. 003758283)

    A large folio volume of tracts on Chancery, entirely in the hand of the Feathery Scribe, 570 leaves (some misnumbered, plus loose inserts), in half-calf marbled boards.

    c.1630.

    Inscribed (f. 1r) J Trevor, probably Sir John Trevor (1637-1717), Speaker of the House of Commons and Master of the Rolls. Later in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt (1792-1872), manuscript and book collector: Phillipps MS 15141. The MS cited as in the possession of Mr. Rooke in a four-page index added c.1839. Acquired from Sweet & Maxwell on 14 February 1950 together with MSS belonging to Thomas Powys (d.1671), Sergeant at Law. Formerly MS 1034.

    Recorded in J. H. Baker, English Legal Manuscripts in the United States of America, Part II: 1558-1902 (London, 1990), pp. 117-19 (No. 559). Briefly described in Peter Beal, In Praise of Scribes: Manuscripts and their Makers (Oxford, 1998), pp. 219-21 (No. 13), with a facsimile of f. 32v on p. 100.

    • BcF 382 ff. 147r-55v

      Copy of Bacon's inaugural speech as Lord Chancellor, 7 May 1617, in the professional secretary hand of the Feathery Scribe.

      Beal, In Praise of Scribes, p. 220 (No. 13.4).

      Francis Bacon, Speech(es)
    • BcF 247.2 ff. 156r-72r

      Copy of 100 Ordinances, dated the xxiij daye of January 1618, followed (ff. 172v-4v) by fifteen Addiconall Rules, in the professional secretary hand of the Feathery Scribe.

      Beal, In Praise of Scribes, p. 220 (No. 13.5).

      First published as Ordinances made by...Sir Francis Bacon Knight...being then Lord Chancellor For the better and more regular Administration of Iustice in the Chancery (London, 1642), beginning No decree shall be reversed, altered, or explained, being once under the Great Seale.... Spedding, VII, 755-74 (mentioning, on p. 757, having seen some MSS and editions of this work but without specifying them or his copy-text).

      Francis Bacon, Ordinances in Chancery
    • CtR 141 ff. 490r-505v

      Copy, in the professional secretary hand of the Feathery Scribe.

      Beal, In Praise of Scribes, p. 221 (No. 13.10).

      Tract, in two parts, the first beginning There is a Booke called the Myrror of Justices mentioned in Plowden's Commentaries..., the second beginning There be Two manner of Powers & Process....

      Sir Robert Cotton, The Courte of Chauncerye

  • HLS MS 1037 (Hollis No. 003701760)

    A folio composite volume of tracts, in various professional hands, pages unnumbered, in contemporary reversed calf (rebacked).

    Formerly MS 1052.

    Baker

    • DaJ 234.5 Item 2

      Copy, in a professional mixed hand, 47 leaves.

      Charge beginning You my Masters that are sworn, I am to direct my Speech principally unto you.... First published (from a MS owned by A. Cooper Ramgard, Barrister) in Grosart, III (1876), 243-81.

      Sir John Davies, Charge to the Jurors of the Grand Inquest at York [in 1619]

  • HLS MS 1039 (Hollis No. 003750674)

    A folio composite volume of tracts on parliament, in various professional hands (including the Feathery Scribe), 262 leaves, in contemporary calf.

    Inscribed in court hand by one M: Bayley. Later Phillipps MS 15141. Sold by James Tregaskis, 4 June 1902. Formerly MS 1054.

    Described in Peter Beal, In Praise of Scribes: Manuscripts and their Makers in Seventeenth-Century England (Oxford, 1998), p. 221 (No. 14).

    • CtR 324 ff. [37r-9r]

      Copy, subscribed Robte Cotton.

      Beal, In Praise of Scribes, p. 221 (No. 14.1).

      Tract beginning If I strait this question, to the common acceptance, my discourse must be.... First published in Hearne (1720), pp. 182-5. Hearne (1771), I, 110-12.

      Sir Robert Cotton, Of the antiquity of motts and words, with Arms of Noblemen and Gentlemen of England
    • CmW 82.8 ff. [44v-6v]

      Copy in the hand of the Feathery Scribe, headed The Antiquetye Off Parliamtes, subscribed Willm Camden.

      Beal, In Praise of Scribes, p. 221 (No. 14.4).

      A tract beginning That there were such like assemblies as parliaments now are, before the Romans arrival here.... First published in Sir John Doddridge et al., The Several Opinions of Sundry Learned Antiquaries...touching...the High Court of Parliament in England (London, 1658). Hearne (1771), I, 303-6.

      William Camden, Of the Antiquity of Parliaments in England
    • CtR 480 ff. [68r-84v]

      Copy, in a professional secretary hand.

      Tract beginning To search so high as the Norman Conquest.... First published, as The Forme of Governement of the Kingdome of England collected out of the Fundamental Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome, London, 1642. Cottoni posthuma (1651), pp. [11]-39.

      Sir Robert Cotton, That the Kings of England have been pleased usually to consult with their Peeres in the great Councell, and Commons in Parliament, of Marriage, Peace, and Warre. Written...Anno 1611

  • HLS MS 1121 (Hollis No. 003529219)

    A folio volume of legal tracts relating to Chancery, in professional secretary hands, 89 leaves (including numerous blanks), in contemporary vellum.

    c.1620.

    Formerly MS 1156.

    Baker, p. 138.

    • BcF 247.4 ff. [67r-74r]

      Copy of 101 Ordinances.

      First published as Ordinances made by...Sir Francis Bacon Knight...being then Lord Chancellor For the better and more regular Administration of Iustice in the Chancery (London, 1642), beginning No decree shall be reversed, altered, or explained, being once under the Great Seale.... Spedding, VII, 755-74 (mentioning, on p. 757, having seen some MSS and editions of this work but without specifying them or his copy-text).

      Francis Bacon, Ordinances in Chancery

  • HLS MS 1169 (Hollis No. 005905616)

    A folio composite compilation of extracts from various works, in a single cursive hand, originally on folded and docketed pairs of conjugate leaves of differing sizes before being opened out and mounted, the pages unnumbered, in contemporary calf.

    Mid-late 17th century.
    • RaW 1051 passim

      Extracts.

      A treatise beginning A Commonwealth is a certain sovereign government of many families.... First published, attributed to Sir Walter Ralegh in John Milton's preface To the Reader, as The Cabinet-Council [&c.] (London, 1658). Works (1829), VIII, 35-150.

      Widely circulated in MSS as Observations Political and Civil. The various attributions include T.B., for whom Thomas Bedingfield (early 1540s?-1613), translator of Machiavelli, is suggested in Ernest A. Strathmann, A Note on the Ralegh Canon, TLS (13 April 1956), p. 228, and in Lefranc (1968), p. 64.

      Sir Walter Ralegh, The Cabinet-Council: containing the Chief Arts of Empire and Mysteries of State
    • BcF 206.8 passim

      Various extracts.

      Ten Essayes first published in London, 1597. 38 Essaies published in London, 1612. 58 Essayes or Counsels, Civill and Morall published in London, 1625. Spedding, VI, 365-591. Edited by Michael Kiernan, The Oxford Francis Bacon, Vol. XV (Oxford, 2000).

      Francis Bacon, Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral
    • CtR 269 ff. [3r-4v]

      Extracts.

      First published, as Collected by Sr. R. Cotton, in London, 1657. Probably collected rather by William and Robert Bowyer, Keepers of the Records in the Tower, and revised and edited by William Prynne.

      Sir Robert Cotton, An Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower of London, from the reign of Edward the Second unto Richard the Third, of all the Parliaments holden in each King's reign

  • HLS MS 1238 (Hollis No. 005085445)

    A folio volume of two tracts, the first (ff. [1r-61r]) John Selden's Englandes Epiniomis, 89 leaves, in contemporary vellum.

    Largely in the hand of the Feathery Scribe (ff. [1r-72v, 85r-9r]).

    Formerly MS 5035. Acquired from Sweet & Maxwell, 11 April 1949.

    Baker, p. 183.

    • CtR 294 ff. [63r-89r]

      Copy, ff. 73r-84v in another professional hand, headed Extractes out off the Recordes wherein it maye bee Collected by whatt Meanes the kinges of England, haue, and maye Rayse monyes, Written by Sr Robte Cotton, Knight, and Barronett: &c.

      Tract beginning The Kings of England have supported and repaired their Estates.... First published, as An Abstract out of the Records of the Tower, touching the Kings Revenue: and how they have supported themselves, London, [1642]. Cottoni posthuma (1651), pp. [161]-200 [i.e. 202].

      Sir Robert Cotton, The Manner and Meanes how the Kings of England have from time to time Supported and Repaired their Estates. Written...1609.

  • HLS MS 4107 (Hollis No. 004574888)

    A quarto volume of legal tracts relating to Chancery, in a single professional secretary hand, 202 pages, including an index, in 19th-century half-calf.

    c.1627-35.

    Formerly MS 4025.

    Baker, p. 109.

    • BcF 247.6 pp. 1-33

      Copy of 101 Ordinances, as published in open Cort .23o Jann: i6i8, followed (pp. 33-7) by fifteen Additionall Rules as published in open Court 31o October 1620.

      First published as Ordinances made by...Sir Francis Bacon Knight...being then Lord Chancellor For the better and more regular Administration of Iustice in the Chancery (London, 1642), beginning No decree shall be reversed, altered, or explained, being once under the Great Seale.... Spedding, VII, 755-74 (mentioning, on p. 757, having seen some MSS and editions of this work but without specifying them or his copy-text).

      Francis Bacon, Ordinances in Chancery
    • BcF 383 pp. 83-6

      Copy of Bacon's inaugural spech as Lord Chancellor, 7 May 1617.

      Francis Bacon, Speech(es)

  • HLS MS 4124 (Hollis No. 005349085)

    A quarto volume of speeches in Parliament 1627-8, in a single professional secretary hand, 388 pages (plus numerous blanks), bound with a twenty-page printed pamphlet, in contemporary calf (repaired).

    c.1630.
    • CtR 182 pp. 43-4

      Copy of the beginning only, headed Sr: Robert Cottons speech to the Lords discoueringe of the Danger wherein the kingdome now stands & the remedies, subscribed The rest of this speech followes in the Printed Copie.

      Tract beginning As soon as the house of Austria had incorporated it self into the house of Spaine.... First published London, 1628. Cottoni posthuma (1651), pp. 308-20.

      Sir Robert Cotton, The Danger wherein this Kingdome now Standeth, and the Remedy
    • RuB 19 pp. 51-4

      Copy, headed Sr: Beniamins Rudyards speech 22o March, 1627o.

      Speech. Yale 1628, II, 58-60, two parallel versions: (1) beginning This is the crisis of parliaments...; (2) beginning It is the goodness of God and the favour of the King...; II, 68, third version, beginning If we be thankful, all is well. By this we shall know whether parliaments will live or die...; II, 73, fourth, brief reported version, beginning We are not now upon the bene esse of our kingdom but the esse....

      Sir Benjamin Rudyerd, Speech in the House of Commons, c.20-22 March 1627/8
    • HlJ 25.5 pp. 274-5

      Copy, headed The Byshopps of Excester Letter to the house of Commons, subscribed Josua Hall.

      Letter, beginning Gentlemen, For God's sake be wise in your well-meant zeal.... First published in Cabala (London, 1663), p. 113. Wynter, VIII, 272.

      Joseph Hall, Episcopal Admonition, Sent in a Letter to the House of Commons, April 28, 1628

  • HLS Small Manuscript Collection / Cotton, Robert, Sir (Hollis No. 004879587)

    Copy, as Collected: By, Sr: Robte Cotton, Knight; and, Barronett, Att hir Maties: Comaundemte, 15 folio leaves (plus two blanks), disbound.

    The first title-page in the hand of the Feathery Scribe; the rest, including a second title-page, in the clear rounded hand of another professional scribe.

    c.1620s-30s.
    • CtR 88
      No description or publication history available.

      Tract, relating to events in 1599/1600, beginning To seek before the decay of the Roman Empire.... First published in London, 1642. Cottoni posthuma (1651), pp. [73]-79 [i.e. 89].

      Sir Robert Cotton, A Breife Abstract of the Question of Precedencie between England and Spaine: Occasioned by Sir Henry Nevill the Queen of Englands Ambassador, and the Ambassador of Spaine, at Calais Commissioners appointed by the French King...

  • HLS Small Manuscript Collection / Trial of the Earle of Essex and Southampton ca. 1601 (Hollis 004792654)

    Copy, in a professional secretary hand, i + thirteen folio leaves, disbound.

    Early 17th century.

    Formerly MS 5119.

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