Letters regarding the Irish Rebellion of 1641-1644

Copies of letters of the Lords Justices of Ireland made at the expense of James Butler, Duke of Ormonde (see the note on fo. 178), 247 folios. On fos 229-236 are copies of further documents relating to Ireland, which are recopied in a later hand on fos 214-218, possibly by Henry St John. These documents include a letter from Elizabeth I to the Privy Council of Ireland; instructions of James I to Sir Oliver St John on his appointment as Lord Deputy of Ireland; letters from James I to the Lords Justices of Ireland; letters to the Treasurer at War in Ireland; letters to Sir Oliver St John; the patent of appointment of Sir Arthur Chichester as Lord Deputy; letters from the Privy Council of Ireland to that of England; the protestation of the Bishops of Ireland against popery; and a letter from James I to Sir Arthur Chichester. On fo. 179 are copies of the examinations of Captain P. Bannister, Governor of Cork, Major A. Muscamp and Humphrey Rogers. Fos 180-213, 219-228 and 238-247 are blank.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

The volume was formerly in the library of the Duke of Chandos, when it was used by Thomas Carte for his An history of the life of James Duke of Ormonde. It was bought at the sale of this library in 1747 by Henry St John, Viscount Bolingbroke. There is a note by St John on fo. 4. Received by Cambridge University Library from the library of Henry Bradshaw, 1886.

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