Written in various hands: (1) ‘A discourse written by Sir Henrie Manwairing; and by him presented to the king’s majestie, ao. 1618, wherein are discovered the beginnings and proceedings of the pyrats, who nowe so much infest the seas: together with his advise and direction how to surprise and suppresse them’, beginning ‘Daielie experience proves it to be undoubtedlie true, that English pyrates doe first arme and horse themselves ...’; (2) ‘The manner of the proceedings in parliament against Francis, Viscount St Albans, late lord chancellor of England, together with his true confession and humble submission’, beginning ‘On Monday the 19th day of December, 1620, in the afternoone, the commons had a conference with the lords ...’; (3) ‘Of the election of the kinge of Poland, December, 1632, by waie of letter, dated ut supra’, beginning ‘My laste unto you was the thirteenth day of December: nowe these are to lett you understand of some passages concerning the election of the kinge of Poland ...’; this is a familiar description of the journey of the writer and Mr Gourden from Danzig to Warsaw, with an account of the proceedings at the election of Vladislas VII; (4) ‘A record or memoriall of divers excellent orations and pollitique consultacions in manie exigents and waightie points of state, delivered at sundry times, and upon severall occasions, by that famous councellor to Queene Elizabeth, Sir Nicholas Bacon, knight, lord keeper of the greate seale of England’: (a) ‘An oration made by the lord keeper to the queene’s majestie in her gallerie at Westminster, exhortinge her to marriage’, beginning ‘May it please your majestie to understand, that all my lords here present, and all the rest, both spiritual and temporal ...’; (b) ‘The answer given in the queene’s presence to the lord maior, when hee was presented’, beginning ‘The queene’s majestie hath heard, and doeth very well understand, your humble suite and peticion ...’; (c) ‘His speech used to a serjeant at lawe called to be a judge’, beginning ‘Mr Serjeant – your wisdome and my weaknes requireth fewe words, and in very deed, fewe words bee best remembred ...’; (d) ‘An oration made to the queene’s majestie by the lord keeper concerninge her marriage and the succession of the crowne’, beginning ‘Humblie beseechinge your most excellent majestie, your faithfull, loveinge, and obedient subjects ...’ [10 November 1566’; (e) ‘The effect of the speech used by the said lord keeper unto the queene’s majestie at such times as her highnes first called him to serve’, beginning ‘I wish, for service’ sake (seeing it pleaseth your majestie to call mee to serve), that those things which your highnes by report supposeth to bee in mee, were mine in very ded’; (f) ‘Used by the lord keeper amonge the lords of the starr chamber, ano. 1568’, beginning ‘The cause of your callinge together at this time is this, the queene’s majestie is given to understand that sundrie of her lawes ...’; (g) ‘The lord keeper’s speeche to Sir Thomas Gargrave, elected speaker for the house of commons’, beginning ‘Sir Thomas Gargrave – your comly and modest manner in disabling yourselfe in this office and roome ...’ [1559]; (h) ‘The speech used by my lord keeper, tenne daies before [Christmas] ano. 1559, at the councell table, concerninge an aide required by the Scotts for the removeinge of the French out of Scotland’, beginning ‘My lords and masters – for that in soe greate and waightie a cause as this is ...’; (i) ‘A speech used by the lord keeper in councell in the end of midsomer terme, 1582 [recte 1562], when it was brought in question whether the enterviewe betweene the queene’s majestie and the Scottish queene were convenient to bee allowed of or not; the effect whereof he spake in July to the queene att Greenewich’, beginning ‘My lordes – to my understandinge the best way to judge whether the enterviewe shall bee good and profitable ...’; (j) ‘A speeche used by the lord keeper to the lords and others assembled in the parliament house’, beginning ‘My lords and masters all – the queene’s most excellent majestie, our naturall and most gratious sovereign lady ...’ [delivered on the opening of parliament, 25 January 1559]; (k) ‘An oration made by the lord keeper the eight of March, the parliament then endinge, to the nobles and commons, in the presence of the queene’s majestie’, beginning ‘Mr Speaker – the queene’s majestie hath heard you how discreetly and wisly you have declared ...’; it does not appear that any of the parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I ended on 8 March, and this speech has been printed, with considerable variations, as the lord keeper’s speech at the close of the session on 29 May 1571 (D’Ewes ‘Journals’, p. 151); (12) ‘The effect of his speech to Mr Bell, when hee was called to bee judge, descrybinge the quallities requisite to bee in a judge’, beginning ‘That the queene’s majestie, through the good opinion which shee had conceived of Mr Bell ...’; the purport only of the speech is given, in the third person, after which follow three lines of Latin verse, and the name ‘Bacon’, apparently an imitation of his autograph. See also MS Dd.03.20, no. 5.