LORD CHANCELLOR ELLESMERE,

from an Original Picture in the Collection of
His Grace the Duke of Bridgewater,

He left to his chaplain, Mr. Williams, afterwards the celebrated lord-keeper and bishop of Lincoln, four manuscript collections, concerning, 1. "The Prerogative Royal."

1

2. "Privileges of Parliament."

3. "Proceedings in Chancery." And,

4. "The Power of the Star Chamber5." Of which I find printed

"Ellesmere's Priviledges and Prerogatives of the high Court of Chancery, 16146.” "Four Letters in the Cabala."

[Sir Thomas Egerton, born in Cheshire about 1540, was admitted a commoner of Brazen Nose college, Oxford, in 1556, whence he removed to Lincoln's inn, and became so great a proficient in the law, that he was appointed solicitor-general to queen Elizabeth in 1581, attorney-general in 1592; soon after which he received the honour of knighthood, and was promoted to the mastership of the rolls. In 1596 he was constituted lord-keeper of the great seal, on the death of sir John Puckering. By king James he was created baron of Ellesmere, in 1603; was appointed lord high chancellor of England, chosen chancellor of the university of Oxford in 1610, and advanced to the

5 Somers's Tracts, 4th coll. vol. i. p.479.

"Harl. Catal. vol. ii. p. 651. [The copy of this book in the Bridgewater library is dated 1641, nor have I seen any earlier.]

dignity of viscount Brackley in 1616. He died at York-house in the Strand, on March 15, 1616-17; before the king could bestow on him, as he intended, the title of an earl, and an annual pension; but the former was conferred on his son John Egerton, who was created earl of Bridgewater.

"Lord Chancellor Egerton's Observations on Coke's Reports,"

are entered in Bibl. Westiana, No. 959. And in the library of James Pearson, esq. 3 was a manuscript volume entitled,

"Some Noates and Observations upon the Statute of Magna Charta, cap. 29; and other Statutes concerning the Proceedings in the Chauncerye, in Courses of Equitie and Conscience. Collected by the Lorde Ellesmere, for a Direccion to the King's learned Counsell, in September A° Dˇmi. An° 13 Regis Jacobi."

The first portion of the volume purported to be written by Thomas lorde Ellesmere, lorde chauncellor of England. The subsequent division contained letters, opinions, and instructions, signed T. Ellesmere, Fr. Bacon, Hen. Montague, Hen. Yelverton, and Randall Crewe.

Mr. Todd informs me, that in the Bodleian library is preserved

"A Diary in the hand-writing of Lord Ellesmere;" but opportunity has not occurred of ascertaining its general contents.

• Camden's Annals, 1617. Lord Ellesmere is said to have left an estate of £8000 per ann. Biog. Brit. vol. v. p. 578.

⚫ Sold by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby, in the spring of 1804.