ARCHIVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2869, 5 June 1882, Page 3

ARCHIVES.

«TA large box of ancient records and papers bearing.on the past history of the county of Essex has lately been discovered in an upper room of the Shire r Hall, at Chelmsford. It comprises, inter J alia, rolls of deeds of conveyances,

sessions rolls, mostly of the 17th and 18th centuries, papers relating to the Protestant and Roman Catholic Nonconformists and their punishments,copies of prosecutions for non-attendance at parish churches documents relating to the making and repairing of roads and •bridges, the punishment of witchcraft, &c. There are also among the contents of the box several letters from the King’s Privy Council, written or signed by Lord Burleigh, Lord Howard or Effingham, Monk, Duke of Albormarle, Lord Lauderdale, the Earl of Northumberland. Lord Houndson, otc., and a certificate bearing the signature of Oliver Cromwell. We understand that a committee of the county magistrates has decided to have those interesting documents properly examined, and arranged, and to enter into cbmmunica tion, with anybody qualified to deal with them to the best advantage, witli a view to their preservation and possible publication. In this matter the magistrates are to he assisted by Mr King, the Secretary ofjjthe Essex Archeological Seen ty.