Many of the letters are from John Coolinge, an illiterate agent at Kempsford, and...

Many of the letters are from John Coolinge, an illiterate agent at Kempsford, and from others on estate and kindred matters. Among them are: -

1. Samuel Francklin, solicitor: Doctors Commons, 5 Oct. 1686 - 12 May 1688. ff.7,13,22,27,75,83,169,237,348.

2. Francis Hill, entirely on business matters: Sarum Close, Lincoln's Inn, etc. 21 Oct. 1686 - 3 May 1687. ff.14,33,41,52,56,64,89,110,112,114,120,130,136,143.

3. Samuel Leigh, concerning electio and other business matters at Tamworth, etc. 27 Nov. 1686 - [1687]. ff.60,211,239,254,256.

4. John Frowde, acknowledging Lord Weymouth's complaints as to delay of the Warminster Post letters: London, 23 Dec. 1686. f.73.

5. John Cooper, reporting that the parishioners of Chedder perambulated the Hill bounds and that the Churchwardens though they had due notice, made no opposition and that "Charterhouse" also "did not come near, probably because they know they have encroached on the Chedder bounds": Chedder, 4 May, 1687. f.145.

6. Jean Jaque Souhaity, Presbytre et Recteur in digne au Couvent de l'Observance, a Rouen, to King James II on the religious persecutions, sending him a book written about six years ago by a French Bishop, relating to Mary, Queen of Scots: Rouen, 20 Aug. 1687. f.200.

7. Rev. Daniel Philips: (a) thanking Lord Weymouth for gifts to his poor parishioners of "Bibles with other useful Books - of his (the writer's) sons' progress at Oxford - and of a sermon lately preached at St Mary's Church, Oxford to the University on the text "Buy the truth and sell it not" [23 Prov. 23], "on ye very Sunday and about ye same time that ye King was at Mass in Massey's chappel hearing a sermon tending to prove Transubstantiation": 8 Oct. 1687. f.229: (b) thanking Lord Weymouth for his kindness to the writer's three sons at Oxford, and wishing him prosperity for the new year: North Bradley, 20 Jan. 1687[8]. f.271.

8. George Clarke, Fellow of All Souls', M.P.for Oxford University: (a) on matters connected with the business of the Warden of All Souls' [Hon. L.W. Finch]: London, 7 Jan. 1687[8]. f.265. f.265: (b) on the illness and death of Dr John Lamphire, Prof. of Anc. History and the appointment to that Chair of Hen. Dodwell by the "absurd forwardnesse" of Dr Mills, Principal of St Edmund's Hall, and the consequent defeat of the Warden of All Souls: London, 7 Apr. 1688. f.325.

9. Samuel Hill, asking for the loan of the Bishop of Oxford's book, and stating that he knows of a MS. "written in vindication of the Tests and Laws, which hath past ye approbation of very judicious men": Killmington, 12 Jan. 1687[8]. f.267.

10. "Extrait d'une reponse faicte a un libelle Italien qui en enforme de reponse a la protestation de Monsieur de Laurardin" [1688]. f.290.

11. Francis Sandford, Lancaster Herald, sending a copy of his book of "ye History of their Majesties Coronacion": Heralds Office, 24 May, 1688.