The letterbook opens: The booke of all the proceedinges of all busines this yeare, 1637 [sic], by Thomas Cholmondeley, Esquier, Highe Sheriffe of the Countie of Chester, who tooke his oathe the xiiith day of October 1637 (folio 1). It contains copies of:
- (a) folios 1-37, documents relating to Cholmondeley's collection of Ship Money in Cheshire, September 1637-December 1638, including orders, warrants, an exhortation to the High Constables, correspondence with the Privy Council and with the Mayor and Aldermen of Chester, lists of collectors, petitions and assessments;
- (b) folios 41-44, the commission (of which Cholmondeley was a member) and warrants, July-August 1641, respecting the Acte for the speedie provision of money for disbandinge the armies and settlinge the peace of the two kingdomes of England and Scotland;
- (c) folios 185-91v, The severall Letters from the Kinges Council to the High Sherife [i.e. Cholmondeley] and withall the seaverall somes of money and the receipts thereof, 1660-61, in connexion with the Acte for the speedie provission of money for disbandeinge and payeinge of the forces of this Kingdome;
- (d) folio 185v, an account of money received from the Hundreds of Nantwich, Broxton, Eddisbury and Wirral by mee, one of the Tresurars for the Militia... for the fowrth parte of one moneths assessment, to witt for the yeares 1666, 1667;