The article pasted on the inside of the cover (viz. the following extract) "_Surisberiensis (J.) Policraticus, &c., 8vo. L. Bat. 1595; very scarce, vellum 6s. This book is of great curiosity; it is stated in the preface that the author, J. of Salibury, was present at the murther of Thomas à Becket, whose intimate friend he was; and that 'dum pius Thomas ab impio milite cedetur in capite, Johannis hujus brachium fere simul percisum est_,'" is from Lilly's Catalogue, and the passage relating to Becket was copied from that of Payne, to whom I communicated it, and which is found in the first edition only, being perhaps purposely omitted in all the others.
[We believe the majority of the books in Mr. Douce's valuable library, now deposited in the Bodleian, contain memoranda, like those in his _John of Salisbury_; and any of our Oxford friends could not do us a greater service than by communicating other specimens of the _Book-noting_ of this able and zealous antiquary.]
LIBER SENTENTIARUM.--INQUISITION OF THOULOUSE.
Mr. Editor,--In or about 1756, an ancient manuscript in folio, on vellum, was deposited in the British Museum by Dr. Secker, then Bishop of Oxford, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and still, I take for granted, remains in that institution. It was intitled upon the cover, _Liber Sententiarum_; but contained the Acts and Decisions of the Inquisition of Thoulouse, from the year 1307 to 1323. It had been purchased by the contributions of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, of the Bishop of Oxford himself, and of various other prelates, the lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons of that time, the Viscount Royston, &c.
Can any of your readers inform me whether any or what portions of this manuscript have been hitherto communicated to the world, either in the way of publication or translation, or of abridgment, in whole or in part? An analysis of this manuscript would be interesting to many readers of ecclesiastical history.
The following extracts, from "The Declaration of the Accompte of Nicholas Pay, gentleman, appoynted by warraunte of the righte honorable the lordes of the kinges ma'ts Privie Councell, to receave and yssue sondrye somes of money for the provycon of dyett and other chardges of the ladye Arbella Seymour, whoe by his hignes comaundemente and pleasure shoulde haue bene remoued into the countye Palatyne of Duresme, under the chardge of the Reverende Father in God Will'm lorde Bishpp of Duresme; but after was stayed and appointed to remayne at Eastbarnett duringe his hignes good pleasure," are new to the history of this unfortunate lady. The account includes all sums of money "receaved and yssued ffrom the xiiij'th daye of Marche 1610, untill the vij'th daye of June 1611," and the account itself (as preserved in the Audit Office) "was taken and declared before the right honorable Roberte Earle of Salisbury, Lord Highe Threas of Englande and S'r Julius Cæsar, Knighte, Chancellor and Under-Threas of Th'exchequer the xij'th of Ffebruary 1611" [1611/12]. The extracts throw some fresh light on her movements on her road from London to Durham. At East Barnet, it is well known, she eluded the vigilance of her keepers, and threw the king and council into the utmost consternation.