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Letters exchanged between members of the Maurice and Owen families of Clenennau and Brogyntyn, and other correspondence from friends or associates in Wales and England, together with a number of important official documents deriving from county administration in Caernarfonshire during the Tudor and Stuart periods, 1485, 1573-1698. Many of the early letters and papers, 1580-1622, relate to the joint deputy lieutenancy in Caernarfonshire of Sir William Maurice and Sir John Wynn, showing their preoccupation with the raising and organisation of militia troops for the defence of Caernarfonshire and for despatch to Ireland. Other topics include Sir William Maurice's position as deputy vice-admiral of North Wales and the protracted civil lawsuits in which he was engaged. The collection also constitutes an important historical source for the conduct of the Civil War in North Wales. Items from that period primarily concern Sir John Owen and his brother, Col. William Owen, Royalist commanders at Conwy and Harlech respectively, and their subsequent treatment under the Commonwealth and Restoration, 1643-1666. Many of the letters from 1678 to 1698 reveal the life of Sir Robert Owen, his debts, estate business, cultural interests and attachment to the Jacobite cause, together with contemporary political news. Apart from individuals already mentioned, prominent correspondents include the Privy Council of Elizabeth I, mostly through Henry Herbert, President of the Council in the Marches of Wales, 1587-1600; Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais, 1605-1616; Ralph, Lord Eure, 1607-1617; members of the Brynker family, 1603-1681; the Wynn family of Glyn and Sylfaen, 1625-1697; the Anwyl family of Park, 1636-1693; Charles I, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice, 1642-1647; Lord Byron, 1644-1648; John Williams, Archbishop of York, 1645-1646; George Twisleton, 1649-1660; the Godolphin family of Abertanat, 1658-1698; John Gadbury, 1679-1688; and Edward Lhuyd, 1696-1697.

A letter book of Edward Lloyd of Llanforda, 1680, containing copies of outgoing correspondence to family members, Sir John Trevor, Sir Robert Owen, John Gadbury, Sir William Williams, and other acqaintances in London and Shropshire, relating to financial, legal and estate matters, horticulture, political and religious disputes of the Stuart period, publishing, domestic arrangements and personal affairs; there are occasional remarks on the activities of his son, 'Neddy' [Edward Lhuyd]. The letters include several scathing responses to a scurrilous attack on the author 's character, involving a Betty Rawson and her associates, which resulted in the publication of a retaliatory pamphlet entitled 'The Westminster Jilt'. The file also contains the empty cover of a letter book of Sir Robert Owen, inscribed 1702 by his daughter, later owned by William Owen and Robert Godolphin Owen.

Correspondents include Humphrey Humphreys, Bishop of Bangor, about drainage of the 'traeths' (salt marshes) near Harlech and the Welsh fishing industry [1682x1698].

Letters to Sir Robert Owen, 1681-1697, notably from William Price of Rhiwlas on a dispute over title to lands in Gest, [1682x1687]; George Twisleton on reports of an attack on Anglesey by Irish rebels, 1688; and John Wynn of Melai soliciting political support for his nephew, Griffith Nanney, 1680. Further correspondents include William Lloyd, bishop of St Asaph, Edward Samuel (in Latin), 1693, and others on personal matters; a financial agreement with Catherine Anwill and settlement of the Cemais estate, [1689x1698]; the introduction of stamp duty, 1694; litigation relating to lands in Oswestry and Brithdir Mawr, 1681-1682; parliamentary news, 1691; loyalty to the Crown; anti-Catholic riots and imprisonment of the earls of Salisbury and Peterborough, [c. 1688].

Correspondents include William Dafudd, farm bailiff of Porkington, on financial pressures affecting the estate and the sale of Nant, 1690.