The particulars of Dr. Leighton's life are scanty and doubtful. He is said to have been born in Edinburgh about 1568. After having taken orders in the Scotch Church, and holding a professorship of moral philosophy in his native city, we are informed that he proceeded to Leyden, studied physic there under Heurnius, and obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

The notes of Croke's judgment in the Hampden case, for the publication of which the Society has to thank its President, are much more brief than either of the two reports printed in the State Trials, but have the advantage of autograph corrections by Croke himself. The judgment attracted considerable attention at the time as being the first delivered in favour of the defendant. Words inserted by Croke are printed in italics. Words scratched out with the, pen are given between brackets in the notes.

The subject of the following pages, it is well known, for many years engaged the attention of the late Mr. John Gough Nichols, who desired to give an exhaustive account of one of the most ancient and interesting festivals of our forefathers—interesting on many accounts, but particularly so from its bearing upon the education of our early choristers. Unfortunately Mr. Nichols did not live to carry out his intentions. Had he done so, the members of the Camden Society would have been in possession of a far different work from that now presented to them.

The following account of the receipts and expenses in the rebuilding of the parish church of Bodmin was accidentally discovered in an old chest, in the parvise over the church-porch, early in the present century. It is neatly written in a book now severed into loose sheets, which, although preserved with great care, is becoming rapidly reduced to dust. There are discrepancies in the sums of the items, owing probably to the defective state of the manuscript. With the exception of the extension of the contractions, in italics, the whole is given as it was found, without any attempt at correction.

In page 86, line 3, for “yourself” read “himself.”

Gustavus Adolphus is a hero of every nation, and it is unnecessary to apologise for the publication of a series of papers which bring him before us as painted by a writer so observant and intelligent as Sir Thomas Roe. The two papers added in the Appendix complete the portrait by strokes from his own hand. I have so recently given an account of the negotiation out of which they sprung that it would be needless to repeat here what I have said elsewhere. But even if these two papers stood alone they would be sufficient to establish the greatness of Gustavus's character. Their weight, firmness, and circumspection stand out in bold relief if they are contrasted with the diplomacy of James and Charles; but I should fancy that they hardly need that foil to attract the attention which they deserve.