FOR the present publication the Society have to thank the liberality of Sir Rainald Knightley, Bart., the manuscript from which it was taken having been preserved in the library at Fawsley. Some years ago it was examined by our late Director, whose opinion has been carefully preserved on a sheet of paper lying amongst the first leaves of the book, and has since been printed in the third Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, p. 254. A more lengthened examination than Mr. Bruce appears to have been able to give to the MS. only served to corroborate the favourable opinion which he formed of it; and, even though much of its contents are anticipated by the considerable extracts from Eliot's Negotium Posterorum, printed by Mr. Forster in his biography of Sir John Eliot, there is even now quite enough of independent information to be gained from it to warrant its publication, especially as the debates reported in it are of such extreme historical importance.

Page 7, last line of text, for “ME. SOLLICITEE prosequted,” read “ME. SOLLICITBE, prosequted.”

“11, noteb, line 4 and 5 from bottom, for “Committees ” read “Committee.”

A place was made in the Upper House for the Duke [Chevreuse] the Frenche Ambassador, who with his Ladye and divers other freinds, lords and ladyes, were present to see the solemnity of the first daye.

His MAJESTIE begana with a profession of his owne want of abillitye to speake, but that the business of this meetinge needed it not, beinge began in his father's tyme, when both hee (as an intersessor) was ingaged by us, and wee by a liberall declaracion ingaged ourselves, soe that it would be a dishonor to him and to us not to perfect it, by yeildinge such supply as the greatness of the worke and variety of provision did require; this hee spake not out of diffidence, but to shew his sence of the publick interest, for hee knew our zeale to religion, our machless fidelity and love to our Kinge (the ancient honor of this nation), and that hee for his part would bee as forward to dispose all his meanes to the common good and defence of the realme, as hee doubted not wee would be forward to ayde him.