tracts published for the Shakespeare Society. No suspicion as to their genuineness seems at that time to have arisen. At some subsequent period they must have been placed in the hands of the Trustees of the British Museum, and the paper in which one of the so-called "Books" of these documents is now enclosed contains the following endorsement: "These two Books of Accounts of Revels (1604-1605 and 16111612) were restored to the Public Record Office by the Trustees of the British Museum on 26 May, 1868. See the 30th Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, p. xxiii. Mr. Edw. A. Bond, Keeper of the MS. Department of the British Museum, saw reasons for doubting the genuineness of one at least of these papers." I have carefully, with gentlemen at the Record Office thoroughly competent to pronounce an opinion on such a subject,examined these documents, and it is only fair to state that at least, with all deference to the weighty opinion of the late Mr. Bond, views on the point are divided. The pages could not have been interpolated, and the character of the writing which contains the references to Shakespeare's plays, though open to question, tallies in many respects with that of the preceding entries.

97 1604-5. Letter from Sir Walter Cope. (Hatfield House Library.)

To the right honorable the Lorde Vycount Cranborne at the Courte.

Sir, I have sent and bene all thys morning huntyng for players juglers and Such Kinde of Creaturs but fynde them harde to fynde/ wherfore leavinge notes for them to seeke me/burbage ys come/ and Sayes ther ys no new playe that the queene hath not seene/ but they have Revyved an olde one/ Cawled Loves Labore lost wch for wytt and mirthe he sayes will please her excedingly. And Thys ys apointed to be playd to-Morowe night at my Lord of Sowthamptons unless yow send a wrytt to Remove the Corpus Cum Causa to yo' howse in strande. Burbage ys my messenger Ready attendyng yo" pleaYours most humbly

sure.

From your Library.
(Endorsed: 1604.)

WALTER COPE.

98 1605. Extract from Camden's "Remaines of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine," 1605, ii. 8, the Epistle Dedicatorie to Sir Robert Cotton bearing the date of June, 1603. The following passage is repeated in ed. 1614, p. 324, and in ed. 1636, p. 319.

These may suffice for some Poeticall descriptions of our ancient Poets; if I would come to our time, what a world could I present to you out of Sir Philip Sidney, Ed. Spencer, John Owen, Samuel Daniel, Hugh Holland, Ben: Johnson, Thomas Champion, Mich. Drayton, George Chapman, John Marston, William Shakespeare, and other most pregnant wits of these our times, whom succeeding ages may justly admire.

99 1605, July 24th. Abstract of Conveyance to Shakespeare of a lease of a moiety of the tithes of Stratford-on-Avon, Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton. (Stratford Museum Records.)

Raphe Hubande of Ippesley Warr: Esquier and Parties. William Shakespear of Stratford-vpon-Avon, gent. That Anthonye Barker Clarke late Warden of the Recitals. Collegiate Church of Stratford-upon-Avon and Gijles Coventrie Subwarden and the whole chapter of the same late Colledge by deed dated 7 Sept 36 Hen. VIII. [1544] leased to a William Barker of Sonnynge, Barks gent: all the tithes of corn grain blade & Heye in Stratford upon Avon Old Stratford Welcombe and Bishopton and the tithes of wool lamb and other small and pryvie tithes in Stratford upon Avon from

Testatum.

Michaelmas day then last past for 92 years at the yearly rental of £122. 18.9 And that the late King Edward VI. granted the reversion of such tithes on the 28 June 1553 to the bailiff and burgesses of Stratford aforesaid.

And that the interest in the original lease then or late in the tenure of John Barker and the late Colledge of Stratford-vpon-Avon had been conveyed to John. Barker of Hurste, Berks, And that said John Barker by deed dated 24th June 1579 gave to John Hubande Knt all the said last mentioned premises for the term then unexpired To said Sir John Hubande on his paying yearly to the said John Barker a yearly rent of £27:13:4 by half-yearly payments on Lady Day and Michaelmas Day with proviso for reentry on non-payment thereof.

And that said Sir John Hubande by his last Will and Testament gave and bequeathed one moiety of said tithes great and small to said bailiff and burgesses of Stratford toward expenses of his funeral debts and legacies and the other moiety thereof to said Ralph Hubande and his assigns paying £5 a year to said. John Barker.

It was witnessed that in consideration of £440 by William Shakespeare paid (rec', etc.) the said Ralph Hubande demised granted and assigned to said WTM Shakespeare his exõrs and assigns one moiety of said tithes (above mentioned) (greater and less) To have and to hold unto said William Shakespeare his exõrs and assigns for residue of said term of 92 years Yielding and paying to the bailiff and burgesses of Stratford aforesaid and their successors the yearly rent of £17 by equal payments on Michaelmas and Lady Day and ur.to said John Barker annual rent of £5.