“The rest of this is not yet found, and that which is written
    thus far is not in the Bishop’s own hand, but the copy is very
    fair.”

However, this second paper (ending thus abruptly) appears to be no more than the first draft of a long letter from Cosin to the Prior, which commences at p. 65. of this MS., and which is dated “from the Court of S. Germains, July 11, 1645;” for not only does this letter bear the same date as the before-mentioned fragment, but it begins by complaining of the tone of expression in a letter evidently received from the Prior after the draft had been prepared, but before it was sent off; and it concludes with the following note appended as a postscript: 

    “Sir,

    “The enclosed (most of it) was prepared for you a fortnight
    since; but now (upon the occasion given by your letter) you have
    it with some advantage from

    “Your servt., J.C.

    “I desire the fav”

    “S.  Germ.  July 12.”

4.  The most important part of this MS., however, is contained in the long letter or treatise {296} placed first in the volume, and bearing for its title, “A View of F.P.’s Answer to the First Paper.”

This is dated from S. Germains, July 25, 1645 and would appear to be Cosin’s last letter.  But, if it be really so, Basire must, I think, be in error, when he says, “Our Doctor ... could never get from the Prior any reply to his last answer.”  For at p. 81. of the MS. there is a reply to the above “Review of a Letter sent by F.R. to a Lady,” &c. which, though copied without either date or signature, was evidently written by the Prior, whilst it professes to be a reply to a treatise closely answering to Cosin’s letter of July 25, but which letter the writer did not receive (as he states) before the 26th of September.

I wish yet further to take notice, that Dr. Tho.  Smith, in His Vitae (Lond. 1707, praef. pp. vii, viii.), refers to these manuscripts in the following satisfactory manner:—­

“Cum, post mortem D. Cosini, de pretio et valore schedarum, quas reliquit, haeredibus non satis constaret, ... auspieato tandem devenit, ut favore, beneficio, et perquam insigni humanitate reverendi et doctissimi viri, D. Joannis Smith, Sacrae Theologiae Professoris Ecclesiae Dunelmensis Praebendarii, quorum frequens hac de re commercium literarum, occasione data, (opportune intercedente praenobili et reverendo, D. Georgio Whelero, equite aurato, et Ecclesiae Anglicanae Presbytero, ejusdem quoque Ecclesiae Cathedralis Prebendario), habui, duos libellos (tanquam praetiosas tabulas ab isthoc infami naufragio servatas) a D. Cosino, dum in Gallia exularet, Angliee conscriptos jam possidieam:  quarum unus Vindicias Ordinatianum Ecclesieae Anglicanae contra exceptiones et cavillationes cujusdem Pontificii sacerdotis e gente nostra, alter Responsionem ad Epistolam nobili faeminae Anglae ab alio saccrdote pro defensione communionis sub unica specie administrandae inscriptam, complectitur,” &c.

I should still be glad to add to this long note the followng Queries:—­