The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-09-13
NUMBER 80.
Doonsday hook.

In dingy, muddy, dirty Fetter lane,
London, that narrow crooked thor
oughfare connecting Fleet street with
Holborne, stands a building wherein is
stored wealth and variety of historic
documents, forming a collection which
is probably unnvalled by that of any
other country. Document after docu-
ment, volume after volume, which
could not but gladden. the hearts of
those who love to peruse the records Of
the gone past. There is the "Doomsday
Book" in which may be seen the sur
vey of England made IN the time of
William the Conqueror. 1t is an ex-
cellent state Of preservation, and the
yellum leaves are as clean, the writing
as legible, and the ink as dark and dis
tinct as though the compilation had
been executed in the last century, in-
stead of eight hundred years ago.
There, too, are the records of the Court
of Chancery, which are full and COM
plete from the time of King John down
to the last decisions rendered by the
present Lord Chancellor, aud a COM
plete series Of the ledger books, show
ing the national expenditure from the
time Of Henry H. down to the present
day, perfectly arranged and in excellent
condition; Among the most interest
ing documents that are displayed is a
treaty between Henry 1, and Robert,
earl of Flanders, the privilege granted
by Pope Adrian to Henry H., giving
him full permission to conquer Ireland,
the treaties made with Robert Bruce,
and miraJle dictu, the treaty of the
Field Of the Cloth of Gold, artistically
illuminated with portrait of Francis
l., and bearing an impression of the
seal chased by Benvenuto Cellini.
Among other interesting historical doc
uments is the confession of Guy Fa@kes
as to the details of the gunpowder plot,
extorted from him by the rack, to which
the poor wretch's signature, faint and
nearly illegible, is affixed. There, too,
is the piteous, yet withal, dignifed let
ter Of Elizabeth. written to her sister
Mary from the tower, pleading for her
release from durance vile, and among
other letters Of interest are several short
notes to foreign ENJOYS to the bloody
queen, prepared in anticipation of the
birth of a child, that never took place,
blanks being left for the date and sex,
besides the letter of Monteagle in which
he gave full information beforehand of
the intended gunpowder plot, and nu-
merous epistles written by James 1,
Mary Queen Of Scots, Catherine de
Medicis, Charles /. and II and many
others from kings and queens who sue
ceeded after the reformation, and from
statesmen and mobiles who played so
great part in the past elevating Eng
land to the high position she occupied
among the nations of the world. The
patent rolls, too, are here, and also run
consecutIvely from the thirteenth CEN
tury up to the present day. In these
are recorded the accounts of the sieges
Of castles, the creating of titles, the
granting of safe conducts. the bestow-
ing of land on begging clergy, and the
negotiations with foreigners. There
are the parliamentary rolls, the church
rolls, in which are to he found particu-
lars of all grants of privileges to the
religious houses; the financial rolls, run
ming from the time of King John to
Charles l., in which we havea complete
record OF the money which English
kings received in payment for ncencies
they granted to ALLEVIATE lands, for
knights services. for pardons and vari-
GUS other convenient schemes and dod-
ges by which the monarchs in the good
old times were wont to replenlsh their
exchequers. The oblata roHs, too, are
full of interest to those who are curl
GUS TO know how in the brave days Of
old great men were wont to secure the
royal protection or favor, for therein
are set out particulars Of all gifts pre-
sented to loyalty by subjects having an
axe to grind. Then the black and red
book of the eXchequer, IN which it is
explained how the land was held in old
times; the golden bull of Clement VII,
by which Henry VII, of infamous
memory, was constituted defender of
the faith.