1. ff. 1–8. The Sermon on I. Samuel, iv. 22, preached at St Mary's, Cambridge, 6 May, 1632, by Nath. Bernard, Lecturer of St Sepulchre's, London, for which he was cited before the Vice-Chancellor of the University (Dr Comber), and subsequently before the High Commission Court. It is imperfect at the end.
2. ff. 9–11. The Articles alleged against Mr Bernard for preaching the foregoing Sermon. The first article is wanting.
3. ff. 12–15. 'Mr Bernard's Aunswers to the articles objected agaynst him.' His autograph is subscribed.
4. f. 16. The acts of court before the Vice-Chancellor etc. in the case of Mr Bernard, 25 June, 4 and 23 July, 1632.
5. f. 17. 'Mr Bernard's Recantation enjoyned him.'
6. ff. 19, 20. Further acts of court before the Vice-Chancellor etc. in Mr Bernard's case, 6 and 10 August, 1632.
7. f. 21. 'The humble Petition of Nathanael Bernard, M.A.,' 'to Mr Dr Comber, Vice-Chancellor of the Universitie.' Subscribed with Bernard's autograph.
8. f. 22. The warrant to bring Nath. Bernard from the Tolboth in Cambridge before the High Commission Court. Dated, London, 8 Nov. 16-32.
9. f. 24. An act of court before the Vice-Chancellor &c. in Bernard's case, 15 October, 1632. Nos. 2–9 are the original documents.
10. f. 26. 'Statutum Caroli de Distributione Comitatuum etc. loco Statuti Doctoris Warkworth in posterum inviolabiliter observandum.' Dat. 15 Maii, A. R. 5. A Statute of Peter-House, Cambridge.
11. ff. 28, 29. 'Rationes ob quas visum est Reverendo Patri ... Eliensi Episcopo electionem nuperam sive duorum ad officium Magistri [nominationem] annullare.' Item, 'Responsio ad rationes e Regione allata.' This relates to the case of Peter-House in 1663, when Bishop Wren annulled the nomination of the Fellows and appointed Dr Beaumont Master.
12. f. 30. The Appeal of certain Fellows of Peter-House to the Visitor, Benjamin [Laney] Bishop of Ely, on account of 'gravamina non pauca' which they suffered from their Master [Dr Beaumont]. It is without date, but Laney was Bishop of Ely from 1667 to 1675.
13. ff. 31, 32. Extracts from the Charter of James I. confirming the privileges of the University, dated 9 March, A. R. 2. From the Registrary's Book, Vol. III. At the end is the determination of the Lords of the Council (20 Oct. 1612) that the village of Chesterton is within the jurisdiction of the University.
14. f. 33. Letter to the Vice-Chancellor from the Commissioners for visiting the University, 'about the choice of the Orator;' dated, London, 8 August, 1559.– 'Out of the Black Paper Book, p. 146, 2.'
15. ff. 33, 34. Notices of the elections to the office of Orator in the years 1601, 1639, 1672-3, 1681.
16. f. 35. Extract from the Letters Patent of Hen. III. for the peace and tranquillity of the University. Dated 22 Febr. A. R. 52.
17. ff. 36, 37. Original letter, signed 'T. S.', to Dr Cross, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, on the subject of granting a degree to Mr Johnson, who had been appointed Chaplain to the Princess of Wales. Dated, Temple, May 18, 1721. T. S. = Dr Thomas Sherlock, Master of the Temple, and successively Bishop of Bangor, Salisbury, and London.
18. ff. 38, 39. Original letter, without signature, 'to Mr Philip Beart, in Bury, Suffolk,' containing strictures on Pope's Essay on Man.
19. ff. 40, 41. Original letter addressed 'for Mr Edmund Gibson at Mr Churchill's, Stationer, at the Black Swan in Pater-noster Row, London,' from John Foxcroft, Rector of Wyfordby (Wiverby), Leic. Dated, 'Wiverby, Apr. 21, [16]94.' It relates to the Topography of Leicestershire, and was no doubt intended to supply information for Bp Gibson's ed. of Camden's Britannia, pub. in 1695; see that work, p. 486, and Nichols's Leicestershire, II. 398.
20. ff. 42, 43. Original letter addressed 'to Mr Abel Swall, at the Unicorn in St Paul's Church-yard in London.' The part on which was the signature has been torn off. It contains notes upon Lincolnshire for Gibson's ed. of Camden, of which Swalle was the publisher.
21. ff. 44, 45. Orders and Regulations of the University of Cambridge respecting apparel etc, signed Holles Newcastle, Chancellor. On the back of f. 41 is pasted a cutting from a newspaper, containing Orders and Regulations upon the same subjects, which passed the Senate 26 June, 1750.
22. ff. 46, 47. Original letter signed 'A. B.' and dated 'Norwich, Apr. 25, 1767,' addressed 'to Mr John Nourse, Bookseller to his Majesty, opposite Catharine Street in the Strand, London.' It contains remarks upon Mr Harrison's Watch at the Royal Observatory for discovering the longitude at sea, with the opinion of the Astronomer Royal; and was intended for insertion in the newspapers.
23. f. 48. Letters of administration from Tho. Tanner, D.D., Official of the Bp. of Norwich, to Alice, Widow of William Mason, of Lowestoft, Suffolk, deceased. Dated 29 March, 1711, and has the official seal attached.