The Lamentation or Complaint of a Sinner, made by the most vertu- ous and right gratious Ladie, Queen Catherine, bewailing the ignorance of her blind life, led in superstition; verie profitable to the amendment of our liues. 4to, containing forty-seven pages 286 The Lord Bishop of Rochester's Letter to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Ecclesiastical Court. Contain- The Instrument by which Queen Jane was proclaimed Queen of Eng- land, &c. setting forth the reasons of her claim, and her right to the crown, [from the first edition, in three folio sheets.] .... 314 The Copie of a Pistell or Letter sent to Gilbard Potter, in the tyme when he was in prison, for speakinge on our most true Quenes part, the Lady Mary, before he had his eares cut off, the xiii. of Julye. Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos. Anno. M.D.L.III. the firste The Communication betwene my Lord Chauncelor and Iudge Hales, being among other Iudges to take his oath in Westminster-hall, Anno. 1553, the 6th of October. Printed in 8vo, containing five The Vocacyon of Iohan Bale to the Bishoprick of Ossorie, in Irelande, his persecutions in the same, and finall delyueraunce, Imprinted in Rome, before the Castell of S. Angell, at the sign of S. Petre, in An Epistle of the Ladye Iane, a righte vertuous woman, to a learned man of late falne from the truth of Gods most holy word, for fear Whereunto is added, the communication that she had with Master Feckenham, vpon her faith, and belefe of the sacraments. Also, another Epistle whiche she wrote to her Sister; with the words she spake vpon the scaffold before she suffered. Printed Anno M.D.LIV. 12mo, containing thirty-one pages A Declaration of the Quenes Maiestie, Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Quene of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, Defender of the Fayth &c. Conteyning the causes which haue constrayned her to arme certeine of her subiectes, for defence both of her owne estate, and of the moste Christian Kynge Charles the nynth, her good brother, and his subiectes. September 1562. Imprinted at London, in Powles Churchyarde, hy Rycharde Iugge and Iohn Cawood, Printers to the Quenes Maiestie. Cum Priuilegio Regia Maiestatis. A letter from Sir Henry Sidney to his son, Sir Philip Sidney, consisting of Rules in his conduct of life, M S. The Copie of a Letter, written by one in London to his frend, concernyng the credit of the late published detection of the doynges of the Ladie Marie of Scotland. Without date, black letter, 12mo, containing fourteen pages, and, by some, thought to have been An Epitaph, or, rather, a short Discourse made vpon the Life and Death of D. Bonner, sometime vnworthy Bishop of London, whiche dyed the 5th of September, in the Marshalsie, 1569, 12mo, A Copie of a Letter lately sent by a Gentleman, Student in the Lawes of the Realme, to a frende of his, concernyng D.Storie. Black letter, The Case of the Bishop of Ross, Resident of the Queen of Scots; who was seized and committed to the Tower by Queen Elisabeth, for traiterous practises and endeavouring to raise a Rebellion against 387 393 A Declaration of the Lyfe and Death of Iohn Story, late a Romish Canonicall Doctor, by professyon. 1571. Imprinted at London, by Thomas Colwell, 8vo, containing thirty-two pages Ane Admonitioun direct to the trew Lordis Mantenaris of the Kingis Graces Authoritie, M.G.B. Imprentit at Striviling by Robert Lekprevik, Anno Dom. 1571, 8vo, containing thirty pages in the A True and plain Report of the furious Outrages of France, and the horrible and shameful slaughter of Chastillion the Admiral, and divers other noble and excellent men, and of the wicked and strange murder of godly persons, committed in many citties of France, without any respect of sort, kind, age, or degree. By Ernest Varamund, of Frieseland. Printed at Stirling in Scotland, 1573. 12mo, containing one hundred and forty-three pages A Disclosing of the great Bull, and certain Calues, that he hath gotten, and specially the Monster Bull, that roared at my Lord Byshops Gate. Imprinted at London, by John Daye, dwelling oure Alders- The Execution of Iustice in England, for maintenauncc of publique and Christian Peace,against certeine stirrers of sedition,and adherents to the traytours and enemies of the realme, without any persecution of them for questions of religion, as is falsely reported and published by the Fautors and Fosterers of their treasons; xvii December, 1583. Imprinted at London, 1583, 4to, containing five sheets, black letter, the first edition; though, as it appears from some manuscript additions, and alterations on the title, and in other parts of the book, prepared a second time for the press, by the A Declaration of the favourable Dealing of her Maiesties Commis- sioners appointed for the examination of certain traitours, and of tortures vniustly reported to be done vpon them for matters of religion, 1583. In black letter, 4to, containing six pages The trve Report of the lamentable Death of William of Nassame, Prince of Orange; who was trayterouslie slayne with a dagge, in his owne Courte, by Balthazar Serack, a Burgunian, the first of Iuly, 1584. Herein is expressed the murtherers confession, and in what manner he was executed, vpon the tenth of the same month: Whose . death was not of sufficient sharpnes for such a caytife, and yet too sowre for any Christian. Printed at Middleborowgh, by Derick van Resperwe, Anno 1584. In 8vo. containing eight pages . . 518 A Discouerie of the Treasons practised and attempted against the Queenes Maiestie and the Realme by Francis Throckmorton, who was for the same arraigned and condemned in Guyld Hall in the Citie of London, the one and twentie day of May last past, 1584. 4to. containing twenty eight pages Treason pretended against the King of Scots, by certaine Lordes and Gentlemen, whose names hereafter followe, with a declaration of the Kinges Maiesties intention to his last acts of Parliament, which openeth fully in effect all the saide conspiracy. Out of Skottish into English, Imprinted at London, for Thomas Nelson, and are to be solde at the West ende of Paules, 1585. Black letter, 8vo, THE HARLEIAN MISCELLANY. THE REASONS WHICH INDUCED HER MAJESTY TO CREATE The Right Honourable Robert Harley, Esq. A PEER OF GREAT BRITAIN, IN THE YEAR 1711. There can be no objection against the prefixing of the reasons for creating the Right Honourable Robert Harley, Esq. a Peer of Great Britain, and Earl of Oxford; especially, as the valuable collection, intended to be published in this form, was made by the greatness of his knowledge in all branches of learning, aud at the vast expence of that noble family. He, that noble peer, who always encouraged learning, and was the Mecenas of learned men in his time; whose patent of creation extols him, and ennobles him with the title of the University of Oxford on that particular account; and whose chiefest delight, in his leisure, from the care he took of the good of the nation in general, was to be constantly among his books; by which familiarity, he is said to have acquired so particular a knowledge of them all, as to be able, without a catalogue, to go immediately to the least of them, upon hearing of it named, though his library consisted of more than 100,000 different authors. He, I say, cannot be denied the first place in this Miscellany, which esteems it an honour to bear his name. A name, that, when alive, gave life to learning; and, by this monument of learning, shall live for ever, in the real esteem of learned men. WHATEVER favour may be merited from a just prince, by a man born of an illustrious and very ancient family, fitted by nature for great things, and by all sorts of learning qualified for greater; constantly employed in the study of state affairs, and with the greatest praise, and no small danger, exercising variety of offices in the government : so much does our well-beloved and very faithful counsellor Robert Harley deserve at our hands; he, who in three successive parliaments, was unanimously chosen speaker; and, at the same time that he filled the chair, was our principal secretary of state: in no wise unequal to either province. Places, so seemingly disagreeing, were easily reconciled by one, who knew how, with equal weight and address, to mode VOL. I. rate and govern the minds of men: one who could preserve the rights of the people, without infringing the prerogative of the crown: and who thoroughly understood how well government could consist with liberty. This double task being performed, after some short respite, he bore the weight of our exchequer as chancellor, and thereby prevented the further plundering † the nation, and also provided for the settling a new trade to the South Seas, and (by rescuing public credit) so opportunely relieved the languishing condition of the treasury, as to deserve thanks from the parliament, blessings from the citizens, and from us (who never separate our own interests from the public) no small approbation. Therefore, we decree to the man that has so eminently deserved of us, and of all our subjects, those honours which were long since due to him and his family, being induced thereto by our own good pleasure, and the suffrage of all Great Britain. For we take it as an admonition, that he should not in vain be preserved, whom the states of our realms have testified to be obnoxious to the hatred of wicked men, upon account of his most faithful services to us, and whom they have congratulated upon his escape from the rage of a flagitious parricide. | We gladly indulge their wishes, that he who comes thus recommended to us by so honourable a vote of both houses of parliament, should have his seat among the peers, to many of whom his family have been long allied, and that he who is himself learned, and a patron of learning, should happily take his title from that city where letters do so gloriously flourish. Now know ye, &c. • His prudence kept quiet, and brought to temper, the heats and passions of parties; and suf fered not the two sides of whig and tory to meet together in a storm; but caused them to ebb gently, and to lose themselves insensibly in the great ocean of moderation. His conduct rescued the church from danger; protected the dissenters in their toleration liberty; preserved the union from the infractions of jacobites and the pretender, and quieted the minds of the people in matters of religion, and the Hanover succession. See the Spectator's Address, page 10, 11. + His wisdom overthrew a management, that, under the pretence of keeping up credit, concealed the circumstances of the nation, till it ran seven millions in debt, and knew nothing of the matter. Id. page 9. At that time the creditors of the government gave 22 per cent. discount for money on the government's bills. Id. ib. The Marquis de Guiscard, who was a French refugee, and, in consideration of his noble birth and misfortunes, was at that time supported with a pension of £400 per annum, from the crown of England; but held secret correspondence with the French ministry; which being detected by Mr. Harley, this Guiscard was seized by the queen's messengers, in St. James's Park, on the 8th of March, 1711, and brought before the committee of cabinet council at the cock-pit; where, the fact being clearly proved by Mr. Harley, the villain stooped down, and saying, j'en veux donc a'toy; then have at thee; stabbed the honourable Mr. Harley. Redoubling the stroke, the penknife broke, which he was not sensible of; but, rushing on towards Mr. St. John, overthrew the clerk's table that stood between. Mr. St. John, seeing Mr. Harley fall, cried out, "The villain has killed Mr. Harley." Then Mr. St. John gave him a wound, as did the Duke of Ormond, and the Duke of Newcastle. But, Mr. Harley getting up, and walking about, they left the villain's execution to them to whom it more properly belonged; hoping that Mr. Harley was slightly hurt. But, when Bussier, the surgeon, searched the wound, the penknife was found struck a slant, and buried in the wound. Had it been an inch lower, it had touched the diaphragmu, and then all the world could not have saved his life: and, if it had pierced a nail's breadth deeper, it must have reached his heart. Mr. Harley took the broken blade out himself, and, having wiped it, called for the handle, and said, "They belong to me." And then, being dressed, ordered the surgeon to take care of Monsieur de Guiscard. See this more at large, in the true narrative of this fact, published by John Morphew, 1711. AN ESSAY UPON THE ORIGINAL AND DESIGN OF MAGISTRACY; OR, A MODEST VINDICATION OF THE LATE PROCEEDINGS IN ENGLAND. As to the author of this excellent tract, we can say no more, than that he was equally an hater of rebellion and tyranny; an impartial and judicious writer; that he had the public peace and prosperity more at heart, than any private view to serve himself; and, if it may be allowed to guess, by his expression in several places, he seems to have been a North Britain. As to the design of it; it was to prove the just rights of the prince and people; to expose tyranny and rebellion; to explode the doctrine of absolute non-resistance; to clear the Prince of Orange, and the English nation that adhered to him in the revolution, from all imputation of rebellion, &c. to prove that king James the second was a tyrant; and the necessity of preserving the succession to the crown of Great Britain in the protestant line. All which is done with that conciseness and perspicuity, and so free from passion and faction, that, I presume, will recommend it to every true lover of our present happy constitution. S the right knowledge of the supreme magistrate is the basis and foundation of our submissions, and the cause of all the blessings which flow from a well-tempered government; so the misapprehensions, and false notions, that many people, either through ignorance, or the prejudice of education, frame to themselves of his power, are no less remarkable for their contrary effects. We fall into extremes equally dangerous, if either we give the people so much liberty, that the magistrate cannot go about these great ends, for which he was designed, but like a weather-cock, is turned about at the pleasure of the mobile; or such a boundless power to the magistrate, as makes the property of the subject altogether precarious, depending on the caprice of an insatiable monarch. * Concerning King James II. in the year 1688. |