The contents of the manuscript are as follows:

(i) `Responsum summarium eorum quae serenissima Regina Angliae ... proposuit in colloquio habito de tribus Articulis cum illustrissumis Oratoribus Christianissimi Regis`, 24 August 1571, concerning the proposed marriage of Elizabeth and the Duke of Anjou. See ‘The Compleat Ambassador’ pages 131-133. (Folio 1.)

(ii) Instructions to Sir Thomas Smith on his embassy to France, 3 December 1571. (Folio 3.)

(iii) Confession of the Duke of Norfolk, November 1571. See ‘Calendar of the State Papers relating to Scotland’, iv, pages 32-40. (Folio 15.)

(iv) `A Breife declaration of the Arraignement of Thomas Howard Duke of Norffolk`, 16 January 1572. This is rather fuller than the version printed in ‘The Harleian Miscellany’, vi, pages 382-388. (Folio 27.)

(v) Thomas Norton`s description of the trial of the Duke of Norfolk, 16 January 1571. Slightly fuller than the version in ‘Complete Collection of State Trials’, i, columns 957-1032, and with the indictment in Latin. (Folio 40.)

(vi) Description of the trial of Robert Higford, secretary to the Duke of Norfolk, 9 February 1572. See ‘Complete Collection of State Trials’, i, columns 1041-1050. (Folio 129.)

(vii) Part of the Bishop of Ross`s `A Discourse ... of his whole charge and proceedings during the time of his ambassade.` It covers the period 11 April 1571-26 March 1572. See ‘Collections relating to the history of Mary Queen of Scotland’, iii, pages 149-241. (Folio 137.)

Sections (vi) and (vii) are in different hands.