[ '° ] 



fhey have been obligingly lent to the writer with full permifTion 

 to communicate the contents of them in whatever manner he 

 pleafes. 



Sir Philip Hoby feems to have been firft introduced to the 

 public by Bifhop Burnet in his hiftory of the reformation, a 

 work founded upon a very laborious inveftigation of all the papers 

 he could find in the public libraries or ofKces to which he had 

 accefs relating to the period concerning which he wrote. It is 

 now well known that Sir Philip filled the poft above-mentioned 

 during part of the reign of Edward the fixth, and alfo that he 

 was employed in other commiffions of importance. One of the 

 volumes of manufcript papers which are the fubjed of this 

 effay confifts principally of letters to Hoby from the Protedor 

 and council and from eminent private characters, all of which 

 are original; it alfo contains fome original ftate papers with 

 copies of others, and alfo copies of feveral foreign papers, as will 

 appear from the lift of the contents which is annexed. The 

 other volume confifts entirely of copies of letters written by 

 Sir Philip Hoby to the Protedor and council whilft a refident 

 at the imperial court. Thefe letters are not confined to the 

 reign of Edward the fixth, the earlicft date being in 1539 and 

 the lateft in 1556; the greateft part were however written in 

 1548, 1549 and 155°' 



By what means thcfe volumes firft came into Mr. Hare's fa- 

 mily cannot now be exadly afccrtained, nor can it be of any 



importance 



