A collection of letters, statements, speeches and notes on Scottish and English historical events dating from 1571 until 1640. Much of the information concerns events leading to the English Civil War. Including copies of: 'A Generall View of the Scriptures'; Elizabeth I's instructions to Sir Thomas Smith, 3 Dec. 1571; 'The Tyme the Place and Manner of the Scottish Queenes Death', c. 1587; James VI, speech to Scottish parliament, 19 June 1617; speeches by Lord Ellesmere and Henry Montague in king's bench, Nov. 1616; notes on general assembly of Church of Scotland, Aug. 1639; Elizabeth I, speech to parliament, 30 Nov. 1601; papers re Anglo-Scottish war of 1640; reports of trials for treason and felonies, including those of 4th duke of Norfolk, Bye plotters, Sir Walter Ralegh, 2nd earl of Castlehaven, Richard Weston, Anne Turner, 2nd earl of Essex; Robert Cecil to Matthew Hutton, undated; articles of matrimonial agreement between Charles prince of Wales and the infanta of Spain, 20 July 1623; oath taken by privy council, 20 July 1623; 'A Discourse to prove that a Conjunction by Alliance of England and Spaine ...'; 'Advertisements of a loyal Subject to his Sovereign King James ...'; 'A Letter of an unnamed Man to an Honourable Lord concerning Ireland in Queen Elizabeth's Days'; Matthew Hutton, archbishop of York, opinion touching certain matters 'like to be called in question before the king', 9 Oct. 1603; James I to Hutton, 1603; Mr Tripp to Toby Matthew, archbishop of York, undated; Toby Matthew to Edmund Campion, undated; Sir John Croke, heads of charge, 8 Nov. 1615; names of Middlesex jurymen on inquest, undated; John Burgess, petitions to privy council and to James I, undated, and sermon, 19 June 1604; Francis Bacon (attrib.) to Sir Edward Coke, 1616; Philip Howard, earl of Arundel, to Elizabeth I, 1585; George Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, to James I, 1623. List of contents in 19th-cent. hand on loose leaves inside back cover.