This Ms. is in small folio. It was formerly in the possession of Peter
le Neve, norroy. A preliminary leaf has the subjoined attestation by
sir William Dugdale. The narrative is much more ample and
circumstantial than in the former Ms., but it is not all in the
handwriting of sir Thomas Herbert. The letter dated 3 November 1681,
and the relations of Huntington, Cooke, and Firebrace, are added in the
handwriting of Dugdale; also, the names of persons who corresponded
with Charles I. while he was a prisoner in the Isle of Wight. The
passages transcribed by the REV. ALFRED GATTY appear in this Ms.--also
in the edition of 1702. The edition of 1813 is a _verbatim_ reprint of
the first and second articles of that of 1702. It was edited by Mr.
George Nicol.
"CAROLINA THRENODIA."
"This booke containeth a large answer to a short letter sent by S^r
Will^m Dugdale kn^t (garter; principall king of armes) unto S^r Thomas
Herbert baronet, {260} residing in the citty of Yorke. By w^{ch} letter
he did desire the sayd S^r Thomas Herbert to informe him of such
materiall passages, as he had observed touching the late king Charles
the first (of blessed memory) during the time that he the sayd S^r
Thomas did attend him in person; B^t for the two last yeares of his
afflicted life."
The other Mss. alluded to are preserved in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford.
The most important is No. 1141., which is minutely described in the
admirable catalogue compiled by Mr. Black. A transcript of the _Threnodia
Carolina_ by Ant. a Wood, also in the Ashmolean Museum, is recorded by
Huddesford.
As there were two _recensions_ of the narrative, I have added a specimen of
each of the Harleian Mss., which may serve as a clue to the nature of other
copies, whether in public libraries, or in private hands.
"The Lords ordered a girdle or circumscription of Capitall Letters to
be cutt in Lead and putt about the Coffin. being onely these wordes
KING CHARLES
1648.
The kings body was then brought from the chamber to Saint Georges hall.
whence after a Little pause, it was w^{th} a slow pase & much sorrow
carrye'd by those gentlemen that were in mourninge: the Lords in blacks
following the royall Corpes & many gentlemen after them, and their
attendants."--THRENODIA CAROLINA, p. 36. Harleian MS. 7396.
"The girdle or circumscription of Capitall Letters in Lead putt about
the Coffin had onely these words.
KING-CHARLES.
1648.
The Kings body was then brought from his Bed-chamber, downe into S^t
Georges-hall; whence after a little stay, itt was with a slow and
solemn pace (much sorrow in most faces discernable) carryed by
gentlemen that were of some quallity and in mourning. the Lords in like
habitts followed the Royall Corps. the Governor, and severall
gentlemen, and officers, and attendants came after."--CAROLINA
THRENODIA, p. 80. Harleian MS. 4705.