Add MS 25707

Composite volume containing papers of the Skipwith family of Cotes, Leicestershire.

Includes verse and prose by John Donne; Henry King; Thomas Carew; Sir Walter Ralegh; William Skipwith; Sir Henry Skipwith; Ben Jonson; William Strode; Sir John Beaumont; Sir Henry Goodyer; George Morley; William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke; Walton Poole; Richard Corbett; John Fletcher; Michael Drayton; John Clavell; Henry Blount; Aurelian Townshend; George Wither; Robert Herrick; Sir John Harington; John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol; Sir William Davenant; Elizabeth Cary, Viscountess Falkland; Owen Felltham; John Grange; Francis Beaumont; Sir Henry Wotton; and William Browne of Tavistock.

ff. 1v-2r Pen-trials, anagrams and signatures in various hands. Anagram by one ‘Will’ on the name ‘Dorothie King’ (see Hobbs, Early Seventeenth-Century Verse Miscellany Manuscripts, 1992, pp. 62-67).

ff. 3r-3v Index by title, incomplete.

f. 4r Poem titled ‘On Sir Kenelme Digbyes Lady 1633’, beginning ‘Fayre broken modell of perfection rest’. Attributed to ‘Lord Digby’, i.e. Lord George Digby.

f. 4r Poem titled ‘Sir John Robins before he kill’d himselfe’, beginning ‘What shall I doe that am undone’.

f. 4v Poem titled ‘on the returne of two faire Ladyes out of the Country’, beginning ‘Great love had found some rebell crew’. Elsewhere attributed to Henry Blount.

ff. 4v-5r Ben Jonson, ‘The Musical strife; in a Pastoral Dialogue’. Untitled copy beginning ‘Come with our voices lett us warr’.

f. 5r Thomas Carew, ‘Celia bleeding, to the Surgeon’. Untitled copy beginning ‘Fond man that cans’t beleeve her bloud’.

ff. 5v-6v John Donne, ‘The Bracelet’. Copy titled ‘Elegia: i’, beginning ‘Not that in color it was like thy haire’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 6v Thomas Carew, ‘To A.L. Perswasions to love’. Untitled copy of lines 37-48, beginning ‘Those curious locks so aptly twin’d’.

f. 7r Thomas Carew, ‘Song. Celia singing’. Untitled copy beginning ‘Hark how my Caelia with the choice’.

f. 7r Untitled poem, beginning ‘I preethee sweet to mee be kind’.

f. 7v Verse dialogue titled ‘Two lovers had protested if either dyed the other to live like a Turtle, Hee dyes and his ghost appears to her’, beginning ‘What art thou? What wouldst thou have?’. Attributed to ‘Mr Reynolds’.

f. 7v Sir Walter Ralegh, ‘On the Life of Man’. Untitled copy beginning ‘What is mans life but a play of passion?’

f. 8r John Donne, ‘The Comparison’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 2’, beginning ‘As the sweet sweat of roses in a still’.

ff. 8v-9r John Donne, ‘The Perfume’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 3’, beginning ‘Once I but once found in thy Company’.

ff. 9r-10r John Donne, ‘Jealosie’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 4’, beginning ‘Fond woeman which wouldst have thy Husband dye’.

f. 10r John Donne, ‘Oh, let mee not serve so, as those men serve’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 5’, beginning ‘Oh let me not serve so, as those men serve’.

f. 10v John Donne, ‘Natures lay Ideot, I taught thee to love’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 6’, beginning ‘Natures Lay Ideot, I taught thee to love’.ff. 10v-11r John Donne, ‘Loves Warre’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 7’, beginning ‘Till I have peace with thee, warr other men’.

ff. 11r-11v John Donne, ‘To his Mistris Going to Bed’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 8’, beginning ‘Come madame, come, all rest my powers defye’.

f. 12r John Donne, ‘Change’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 9’, beginning ‘Although thy hand, and fayth, and good works too’.

ff. 12r-12v John Donne, ‘The Anagram’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 10’, beginning ‘Marry and love thy Flavia, for shee’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 13r-13v John Donne, ‘On his Mistris’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 11’, beginning ‘By our first strange and fatall interview’.

f. 13v John Donne, ‘His Picture’. Copy titled ‘Elegya 12’, beginning ‘Here take my picture though I bid farewell’.

ff. 14r-14v John Donne, ‘Elegie on Mistress Boulstred’. Copy titled ‘Funerall elegy for mistress Bolstrid’, beginning ‘Death I recant and say unsayed by me’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 14v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Greeve not deere love although wee often parte’. Elsewhere attributed to John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol.

f. 15r John Donne, ‘The broken heart’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘He is starke mad who ever says’. Attributed to ‘J.D’

f. 15v John Donne, ‘The Flea’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Marke but this flea, and marke, in this’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 16r John Donne, ‘Lovers infinitenesse’. Copy titled ‘Mon tout’, beginning ‘If yet I have not all thy love’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 16v-17r John Donne, ‘Psalme 137’. Copy titled ‘Psalme 137’, beginning ‘By Euphrates flowry side’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 17v John Donne, ‘Song’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Sweetest love, I doe not goe for wearinesse of thee’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 17v John Donne, ‘Epitaph on Himselfe. To the Countesse of Bedford’. Copy of the six-line epistle, titled ‘Madame’, beginning ‘That I might make your Cabinet my tombe’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 18r John Donne, ‘The Dreame’. Untitled copy of lines 1-20, beginning ‘Deer love, for nothing less then thee’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 18r John Donne, ‘The Expiration’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘So so leave of thy last lamentinge kisse’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 18v John Donne, ‘Negative love’. Copy titled ‘The nothinge’, beginning ‘I never stoopt so low as they’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 18v John Donne, ‘Breake of day’, Copy titled ‘A songe’, beginning ‘Tis true, tis day what though it be?’ Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 18v John Donne, ‘Song’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Lie still my deare, why dost thou rise?’

f. 19r John Donne, ‘A Valediction: forbidding mourning’. Copy titled ‘Valediction agaynst mourninge’, beginning ‘As vertuous men pass mildly away’.

f. 19v John Donne, ‘The Will’. Copy of a five stanza version, titled ‘A will’, beginning ‘Before I sighe my last gaspe let me breath’.

f. 20r John Donne, ‘The Sunne Rising’. Copy titled ‘Ad solem. A songe’, beginning ‘Busy old foole, unruly sun’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 20v John Donne, ‘Loves diet’. Copy titled ‘The Dyet’, beginning ‘To what a cumbersome unwieldinesse’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 21r John Donne, ‘Loves Deitie’. Copy titled ‘Loves Deity’, beginning ‘I longe to talke with some old lovers ghost’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 21v-22r John Donne, ‘To Mistress M.H.’ Untitled copy, beginning ‘Mad paper stay, and grudge not hear to burne’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 22r Poem titled ‘on a stolne kiss of a faire Lady’s muff in a Church’, beginning ‘They who peculiar saints implore’. Elsewhere attributed to Henry Blount.

f. 22r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Come heavy hart whose sighs thy passions show’.

f. 22v John Donne, ‘The Autumnall’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘No springe nor summer bewty hath such grace’.

ff. 23r-23v John Donne, ‘To Sir Henry Goodyere’. Copy titled ‘To Sir Henry Goodier’, beginning ‘who makes the past his patterne for next yeare’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 23v Owen Felltham, ‘The Appeal’. Untitled copy of a three stanza version, beginning ‘Tyrant Cupid I appeale’.

ff. 24r-26v John Donne, ‘Obsequies to the Lord Harrington, brother to the Lady Lucy, Countesse of Bedford’. Copy titled ‘Obsequies upon the Lord Harringeton that last died’, beginning ‘Fayre soule, which wast not onely as all soules be’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 26v Thomas Carew, ‘Ingratefull beauty threatned’. Copy titled ‘Upon Caelia growne proud’, beginning ‘Know Caelia since thou arte so proud’.

ff. 27r-28r John Donne, ‘Loves Progress’. Copy titled ‘Elegye of loves progresse’, beginning ‘Who ever loves, yf he doe not propose’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 28r Henry King, ‘The Vow-Breaker’. Copy titled ‘To an inconstant mistress’, beginning ‘When first the magick of thy eye’. Attributed to ‘HK’.

f. 28v John Donne, ‘The Curse’. Copy titled ‘A Curse’, beginning ‘Who ever guesses, Thinkes, or Dreams he knowes’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 29r-29v John Donne, ‘Elegie on the Lady Marckham’. Copy titled ‘An Elegye upon the death of the Ladye Markham’, beginning ‘Man is the world, and death the Ocean’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 29v John Grange, ‘Be not proud, 'cause fair and trim’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Bee not proude cause fayre and trimm’.

ff. 30r-30v Francis Beaumont, ‘An Elegy on the Lady Markham’. Copy titled ‘An Elegye upon the death of the Ladie Markham’, beginning ‘ As unthrifts greive in straw for theere paund beds’. Attributed to ‘F.B.’

ff. 31r-31v Francis Beaumont, ‘Ad Comitissam Rutlandiae’. Copy titled ‘A Letter to the Countesse of Rutlande’, beginning ‘Madam: soe maye my verses pleasinge bee’. Attributed to ‘F.B.’

f. 32r John Donne, ‘Twicknam garden’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with teares’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 32r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Yf each ones fault weare in theare foreheads wrytt’. Attributed to ‘N.H.’

f. 32v John Donne, ‘The good-morrow’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘I wonder by my troth what thou, and I’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 32v Untitled poem, beginning ‘O frutefull garden, and yet never tilde’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 33r John Donne, ‘A Lecture upon the Shadow’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Stand still, and I will reade to thee’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 33r John Donne, ‘The Apparition’. Copy titled ‘Apparition’, beginning ‘When by thy scornes O Murtheres I am dead’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 33v John Donne, ‘Loves Alchymie’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Some that have deeper diggd loves myne then I’.

f. 33v John Donne, ‘The Legacie’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘When I died last, (and deare I die’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 34r Poem titled ‘To my Lord of Pembrooke’, beginning ‘Fye, Fye you sonnes of Pallas what madd rage’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 34r-34v Poem titled ‘of a lady in the black Masque’, beginning ‘Who chose shee black; was it that in whitenes’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 34v Sir Henry Wotton, ‘The Character of a Happy Life’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Howe happie is hee borne or taught’. Attributed to ‘H.W.’

ff. 35r-36r John Donne, ‘An Epithalamion, Or mariage Song on the Lady Elizabeth, and Count Palatine being married on St. Valentines’. Copy titled ‘Epithalamion at the Mariage of the Princess Elyzabeth, and the Palzgrave celebrated on St Valentines daye’, beginning ‘Hayle Byshop Valentine whose daye this is’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 36r-37v John Donne, ‘Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward’. Copy titled ‘Mr J Dunn goeinge from Sir H G on good fryday sent him back this Meditacion, on the waye’, beginning ‘Lett mans soule bee a spheare, and then, in this’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 36v-37r John Donne, ‘The Relique’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘When my grave is broake up againe’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 37r Poem titled ‘Upon the picture of a fayre lady drawn unsuccesfully’, beginning ‘Bould cunning reach’t att Chloris aire’.

f. 37v Sir Henry Goodyer, ‘Epithamamion, of the Princess Mariage by Sir H.G.’, beginning ‘Which of you Muses please’. Attributed to ‘Sir H.G.’

f. 38v John Donne, ‘The Blossoms’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Little think’st thou poore Flower’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 39r John Donne, ‘A Letter written by Sr H: G: and J: D: alternis vicibus’. Copy titled ‘A Letter written by Sir HG and JD alternis vicibus’, beginning ‘Since ev’ry Tree beginns to blossome now’.

f. 40r Henry Skipwith, ‘An Elegie on the Death of my never enough Lamented master king Charles the first’. Copy beginning ‘Weepe, weepe even mankinde weepe, soe much is dead’. Attributed to ‘Henry Skipwth’.

ff. 41r-42r Poem titled ‘A thankes giveinge after the recovery of a burninge fever’, beginning ‘I burne againe, mee thinkes a holy fire’. Elsewhere attributed to Robert Gomersall.

ff. 42r-42v Thomas Carew, ‘The mistake’. Copy titled ‘on a harte which a Gentlewoman wore on her brest’, beginning ‘When on faire Caelia I did spy’.

f. 42v Poem titled ‘On a faire Ladyes walking in hide parke’, beginning ‘Sure twas the spring went by, for th’earth did wast’. Elsewhere attributed to Richard Clark.

ff. 42v-43r William Browne of Tavistock, ‘On a Fair Lady's Yellow Hair, powdered with White’. Copy titled ‘on a powdred hayre’, beginning ‘Say why on her hayre yett stayes’.

f. 43r Henry King, ‘Sonnet. The Double Rock’. Copy titled ‘sonett’, beginning ‘Since thou hast view’d some Gorgon and art grow’ne’.

f. 43v Untitled poem, beginning ‘I doe not Wonder Beawmont thou art dead’. Attributed to ‘G. Lucy’.

ff. 44r-45r Poem titled ‘On the death of Mr Francis Beamont’, beginning ‘Unto thy everlastinge memorye’. Attributed to ‘T.P.’, i.e. Thomas Pestell.

f. 45v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Why should I spend a teare? thou art not dead’. Attributed to ‘T.G.’

f. 45v William Strode, ‘To a Gentlewoman with Black Eyes, for a Frinde’. Copy of lines 15-20, beginning ‘Oft when I looke I may descry’.

f. 46r Untitled petitionary poem on the Overbury affair, with response, beginning ‘Looke, and lament behould a face of Earth’.

ff. 46v-47r Untitled poem, beginning ‘I cannot for my owne loss weepe, as those’. Attributed to ‘T.G.’

f. 47v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Might I a Wife chuse, and have to my minde’.

f. 47v Poem titled ‘A Contry life’, beginning ‘Happy who his life in his owne fields outweares’.

ff. 48r-50r John Donne, ‘Satyre IV’. Copy titled ‘Mr Dunns first Satire’, beginning ‘Well I maye now receave, and die, my synn’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 50v-51v John Donne, ‘Satyre I’. Copy titled ‘Satire the second’, beginning ‘Awaye thou Changlinge, Motley, humorist’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 51v-52v John Donne, ‘Satyre II’. Copy titled ‘Satire 3d’, beginning ‘Sir (though I thank God for it) I doe hate’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 52v-53v John Donne, ‘Satyre III’. Copy titled ‘Satire the 4th’, beginning ‘Kinde pittie choakes my spleene; brave scorne forbidds’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 54r-54v John Donne, ‘Satyre V’. Copy titled ‘Satire the 5th’, beginning ‘Thou shalt not laugh in this Leafe (Muse) nor they’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 55r-55v John Donne, ‘The Storme’. Copy titled ‘A Storm’, beginning ‘Thou which art I (tis nothinge to bee soe)’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 55v-56r John Donne, ‘The Calme’. Copy titled ‘The Calme’, beginning ‘Our Storme is past, and that stormes tryanous rage’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 56v-57r John Donne, ‘Sapho to Philaenis’. Untitled copy of lines 1-30 and 55-64, beginning ‘Where is that hot fire which verse is sayde’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 57r-57v John Donne, ‘The Extasie’. Copy titled ‘The Extasye’, beginning ‘Where like a pillow on a bed’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’f. 58r Poem titled ‘A good Admonicion to yonge Gentwomen that Live’d about the Courte’, beginning ‘Beware (faire Maydes) of Muskie Courtiers oathes’. Elsewhere attributed to Joshua Sylvester.

f. 58r Untitled poem beginning ‘Tell mee where the beawty lyes’.

f. 58v Poem titled ‘Upon a faire Ladyes picture’, beginning ‘Behould those faire eyes in whose light’. Elsewhere attributed to Henry Blount.

f. 58v Untitled poem beginning ‘Those nimble fancyes that which artfull hand’.

f. 58v Untitled poem beginning ‘My eares were pleased first, my opticks next’.

ff. 59r-59v Sir John Beaumont, ‘Against the desire of greatnesse, thoughte Mr John Beaumonts’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Thou would’st bee greate, and to such height wouldst rise’. Attributed to ‘J.B.’

f. 59v William Strode, ‘On a Gentlewoman who escapd the marks of the Pox’. Copy titled ‘On a Gentlewoman that had the small Pox’, beginning ‘A Beauty smoother then an Ivory Plaine’.

ff. 60r-60v John Donne, ‘To Sr Henry Wotton’. Copy titled ‘Letters’, beginning ‘Sir more then kisses Letters mingle soules’. Attributed to ‘Dunne’.

f. 60v Francis Beaumont, ‘Why should not pilgrims to thy body come’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Why should not Pillgryms to thy bodie Come’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 61r John Donne, ‘Song’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Goe, and Catch a fallinge starr’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 61r John Donne, ‘The Message’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Send home my longe strayd eyes to mee’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 61v-62r John Donne, ‘The Crosse’. Copy titled ‘The Crosse’, beginning ‘Since Christe imbrast the Crosse himself, dare I’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

ff. 62r-63r Francis Beaumont, ‘An Elegy on the Death of the Virtuous Lady, Elizabeth Countess of Rutland’. Copy titled ‘An Elegie upon the death of the vertuouse Lady Eliz. Countess of Rutland’, beginning ‘I maye forgett to eate, to drinck, to sleepe’. Attributed to ‘F.B.’

f. 63r Ben Jonson, ‘A Celebration of Charis in ten Lyrick Peeces. 7. Begging another, on colour of mending the former’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘For loves’ sake kisse mee once againe’.

ff. 63v-64r Sir John Beaumont, ‘To the immortall memory of the fairest and most vertuous Lady, the Lady Clifton’. Copy titled ‘An Elegie upon the death of the Lady Clifton’, beginning ‘Her tongue hath Ceasd to speake, which might make dumbe’. Attributed to ‘F.B.’

f. 64v John Donne, dedicatory prose epistle to ‘Obsequies to the Lord Harrington, brother to the Lady Lucy, Countesse of Bedford’, addressed to the Countess of Bedford. With the marginal note ‘This was sent with the Elegie of the Lorde Harrington’.

f. 64v Untitled poem, beginning ‘If my mistresse fixe her Eye’. Elsewhere attributed to Henry Harrington.

f. 65r John Donne, ‘His parting from her’. Copy titled ‘At hir departure’, beginning ‘Since shee muste goe and I muste mourne, come nighte’. Attributed to ‘J.D.’

f. 65v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Love child with could, and missing in the skyes’.

f. 65v Poem titled ‘A sua segniora, sopra l’inconstanza del suo amore’, beginning ‘As you are pure confesse, how weake the joyes’.

ff. 66r-67r John Fletcher, ‘Upon An Honest Man's Fortune’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘You that can looke through heaven, and tell the starrs’. Attributed to ‘J.F.’

f. 67r Ben Jonson, ‘The Sad Shepherd’, I.v, 65-80. Copy titled ‘A Comparison twixt love and Death’, beginning ‘Though I am young and cannot tell’.

f. 67v Untitled poem, beginning ‘I ask not love, but I aske reason why’.

f. 67v Henry King, ‘Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Dry those faire those christall eyes’.

ff. 68-69r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Since wee perceave not onely wealth but witt’. Attributed to ‘T.P.’, i.e. Thomas Pestell.

f. 69r Poem titled ‘To T.P. on the good woman’, beginning ‘Parson your lynes ar smoth, Invention good’. Attributed to ‘Tho. B.’

f. 69v Poem titled ‘Sonett’, beginning ‘Eyes gaze no more’.

f. 69v Ben Jonson, ‘Song. To Celia’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Drink to mee Celia with thine eye’.

ff. 70r-70v Untitled poem, beginning ‘The hand that mov’d thee (Pestell) thus to pound’. Attributed to ‘F.C.’

f. 70v Sir John Beaumont, ‘My Lord of Buckinghams welcome to the King at Burley’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Sir you have ever shin’d upon me bright’. Attributed to ‘J.B.’

ff. 71r-71v Sir John Beaumont, ‘Of true Greatnesse: to my Lord Marquesse of Buckingham’. Copy titled ‘Of trew greatnesse: To my Lorde Marquesse of Buckingham’, beginning ‘Sir you are truly great, and every eye’. Attributed to ‘J.B.’

f. 72r Sir John Beaumont, ‘An Epithalamium to my Lord Marquesse of Buckingham, and to his faire and vertuous Lady’. Copy beginning ‘Severe and serious Muse’.

f. 72v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Hee that can write for teares and can but thinke’.

f. 72v Poem titled ‘Du Monsieur le primier advocate’, beginning ‘Virgo sem subjecta viro’.

f. 72v Poem titled ‘In Montem acutum’, beginning ‘Mons ut acutus erat, si mens et acuta fuisset'.

ff. 73r-73v Poem titled ‘An Elegie By the Kinge’, beginning ‘You women that doe London love soe well’. Attributed to ‘J. Rex’.

f. 73r Poem titled ‘Mr Clavell [i.e. John Clavell] to the Kinge’, beginning ‘I that so oft have rob’d, am now bid stand’. With ‘An answer to Clavell’, beginning ‘The king of kings did once a theife forgive’.

ff. 74r-75v Poem titled ‘The wiper of the peoples teares’, beginning ‘Oh stay your teares you that complaine’.

f. 76r Poem titled ‘To the famous Saint of blessed memorye Elizabeth the humble peticion of her now wretched, and Contemptible, the Comons of England’, beginning ‘If Saints in heaven can either see or heare’.

f. 76v Thomas Carew, ‘The Comparison’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Dearest thy tresses are not threades of gold’.

f. 76v Thomas Carew, ‘Mediocritie in love rejected. Song’. Copy titled ‘Of an Indiferent affection’, beginning ‘Give me more love or more disdayne’.

ff. 77r-78r Poem titled ‘To the most heigh and myghty the most pious and mercifull the cheife Chancellor of heaven, and onely Judge of Earth the most humble peticion of the poore distressed Commons of longe afflicted England’, beginning ‘If bleeding soules dejected hearts finde grace’.

f. 78r William Browne of Tavistock, ‘On the Countess Dowager of Pembroke’. Copy titled ‘On the Countess of Pembroke’, beginning ‘underneath this sable herse’.

f. 78v Henry King, ‘Silence. A Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Peace my harts blabb, be ever dumbe’.

f. 79r George Morley, ‘An Epitaph upon King James’. Copy of lines 1-22, titled ‘On King James’, beginning ‘All that have Eyes now wake and weepe’.

ff. 79v-81r Poem titled ’19 7mbris’, beginning ‘with bowed thoughts, low as this hollow Cell’. Attributed to ‘P.K.’, i.e. Philip King.

f. 81r Untitled poem, beginning ‘It is true I am derided’.

f. 81r Thomas Carew, ‘The tooth-ach cured by a kisse’. Copy titled ‘on the recovery from the ooth ache by a kisse from a faire lady’, beginning ‘Fates now growne mercifull to men’.

f. 81v Untitled poem, beginning ‘I am resolv’d no more t’expose’.

f. 81v William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, ‘A Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘So glides a long the wanton brooke’.

ff. 82r-89r Sir John Beaumont, ‘Bosworth Field’. Copy titled ‘Bosworth Feilde’, beginning ‘The winters storme of Civill warre I singe’.

f. 89r Untitled poem, beginning ‘what art thow Cupid or you queene of love’. Attributed to ‘R.E.’, i.e. Robert Eaton.

f. 89v Untitled poem, beginning ‘They which make heaven their booke; and the chast starrs’.

f. 90r Walton Poole, ‘If shadows be a picture's excellence’. Copy titled ‘In the prayse of a blacke woeman’, beginning ‘If shaddowes be the pictures excellence’.

f. 90v Untitled poem, beginning ‘If any have the grace at once to bee’. Attributed to ‘D. Fooaks’.

f. 91r Untitled poem, beginning ‘A peacefull mind goes homely cladd’. Attributed to ‘T. Ast.’, i.e. Thomas Aston.

f. 91r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Love mee not for comely grace’.

ff. 91v-92r Richard Corbett, ‘An Elegy Upon the death of Queene Anne’. Copy titled ‘On the Queene’, beginning ‘Noe not a quach (sad poet) doubt you’.

f. 92r Thomas Carew, ‘A cruel Mistris’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘I reade of kings, and Gods that kindly tooke’.

f. 92r Poem titled ‘A prayer’, beginning ‘As the Gods have hitherto’.

f. 92v Sir Walter Ralegh, ‘A Poem of Sir Walter Rawleighs’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Nature that washt her hands in milke’.

ff. 93r-93v Poem titled ‘On the kinge of sweden 1632’, beginning ‘The youthe heareafter, when owld wives shall chatt’.

f. 93v Thomas Carew, ‘A Health to a Mistris’. Copy titled ‘A Health to a Mistris’, beginning ‘To her whose beautie doth excell’.

ff. 94r-94v William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, ‘Benj. Rudier of Tears’. Copy titled ‘Dr Brookes of teares’, beginning ‘who would have thought there could have bin’.

f. 94v Thomas Carew, ‘Lips and Eyes’. Copy beginning ‘In Caelias face a question did arise’.

f. 94v Anagram on the name ‘Elissabeth Swayne’.

f. 95r Poem titled ‘His Indifferency of her Constancy’, beginning ‘Let worthlesse spirits feare unsteadfast love’. Elsewhere attributed to Dudley North, 3rd Baron North.

f. 95r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Tell hir hee that sent her this’. Attributed to ‘T.Z.’, i.e. Zouch Towneley.

f. 95v Poem titled ‘a Tryall’, beginning ‘Know Lady that my life depends’.

f. 95v Michael Drayton, ‘To His Coy Love, A Conzonet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘I prethee leave, love mee no more’.

f. 95v Untitled poem, beginning ‘No clouds Inhabite where shee dwells’.

ff. 96r-97v Henry King, ‘An Elegy Upon the most victorious King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus’. Copy beginning ‘Like a cold Fatall sweat which ushers death’. Attributed to ‘D: Hen: Kinge’.

f. 97v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Explaine with unsuspitious-lookes’.

ff. 98r- 99v Henry King, ‘An Exequy To his Matchlesse never to be forgotten Freind'. Copy titled ‘An Exequy To his matchlesse never to be forgotten Frende’, beginning ‘Accept thou Shrine of my Dead Saint’. Attributed to ‘D: H: Kinge’.

f. 99v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Kisses are prologues unto sweeter toyes’.

f. 99v Untitled couplet, beginning ‘Tell her I love, and if she ask how well’.

f. 100r Thomas Carew, ‘Song. To my inconstant Mistris’. Copy titled ‘To her inconstant servant’, beginning ‘When thou poore Excomunicate’.

f. 100r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Since all men that I come among’.

f. 100r Untitled couplet, beginning ‘Loves fire is of a nature which by turnes’.

f. 100v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Shall feare to seeme untrue’. Attributed to ‘Sir R. Caton’, i.e. Sir Robert Ayton.

f. 100v Henry King, ‘Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Tell mee you starres that our affections move’.

f. 100v Sir Henry Wotton, ‘Upon the Death of Sir Albert Morton's Wife’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘she first deceas’d: hee for a little tryd’.

f. 101r Thomas Carew, ‘Disdaine returned’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Hee that loves a roasy Cheeke’. Attributed to ‘T.C.’

f. 101r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Venus I heere thow romest about’.

ff. 101v-102r Henry King, ‘Upon the King's happy Returne from Scotland’. Copy titled ‘Upon the Kings happy Returne from Scotland 1633’, beginning ‘So breakes the Day, when the Returning Sun’. Attributed to ‘D: H: Kinge’.

f. 102r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Vayne Fooles they are that doe Complaine’.

f. 102v Henry King, ‘Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Tell mee no more how faire she is’. Attributed to ‘H:K:’

f. 102v Thomas Carew, ‘Red, and white Roses’. Copy titled ‘on a white Rose and a Red’, beginning ‘Read in these Roses the sad story’.

f. 103r Thomas Carew, ‘Griefe ingrost’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Wherfore doe thy sad numbers flow’. Attributed to ‘Mr Th: Cary’.

f. 103r Sir Robert Ayton, ‘On love’. Copy titled ‘On Love’, beginning ‘Love is a game att tables where the die’.

f. 103v Owen Felltham, ‘This ensuing Copy the late Printer hath been pleased to honour, by mistaking it among those of the most ingenious and too early lost, Sir John Suckling’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘when deare I doe but thinke on thee’.

f. 103v Untitled couplet, beginning ‘Hartts that in true affection linked bee’.

f. 104r Poem titled ‘To his coy mistress’, beginning ‘Goe my disdaine and with a constant brow’.

ff. 104r-104v John Grange, ‘To the world Ile nowe discouer’. Copy titled ‘of his false mistress’, beginning ‘To the world Ile now discover’.

ff. 104v-105r Poem titled ‘To his constant mistress’, beginning ‘You rayling Poets blush, blush all that say’.

ff. 105r-105v Poem titled ‘Againe’, i.e. ‘To his constant mistress’, beginning ‘Your sirvant lives but if you knew’.

ff. 105v-106r Poem titled ‘To his great mistress’, beginning ‘Can your greatnes fayre protect you’.

ff. 106r-106v Poem titled ‘To his Phantasticall mistress’, beginning ‘Ever looking never ceasing’.

ff. 106v-107r Poem titled ‘To his proud mistress’, beginning ‘Is it thy birth puffs up thy minde’.

ff. 107r-107v Poem titled ‘To his rich mistress’, beginning ‘You oft wish’t my fayrest fayre’.

ff. 107v-108r Poem titled ‘To his poore mistress’, beginning ‘When thy servant is att leasure’.

ff. 108r-109r Poem titled ‘To his frowing [sic] mistress’, beginning ‘Have I thou creature borne to my undoing’.

ff. 109r-109v Thomas Carew, ‘To his jealous Mistris’. Copy titled ‘To his jealous mistress’, beginning ‘Admitte thou darling of mine eyes’.

f. 109v Poem titled ‘A dissembing [sic] mistress’, beginning ‘was it a forme, a gate, a grace’. Elsewhere attributed to Henry Reynolds.

ff. 109v-110r Poem titled ‘An unconstant mistress’, beginning ‘while the cleere sunn with his beames hott’.

f. 110r Poem titled ‘on a Lady Crossing the Seas’, beginning ‘Farewell fayre saynt, may not the seas and winde’. Elsewhere attributed to Thomas Cary, son of Robert, 1st Earl of Monmouth.

f. 110r Untitled couplet, beginning ‘Love flying to my mistress breasts not thinking their to stay’.

f. 110v Robert Herrick, ‘To his false Mistris’. Copy titled ‘on his perjur’d mistress’, beginning ‘Whither are all her false oathes flowne’.

f. 110v Robert Herrick, ‘The Curse. A Song’. Copy titled ‘on hir perjur’d sirvant’, beginning ‘Goe perjur’d man, and if thou ere returne’.

f. 110v Owen Felltham,’ A Farewell’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘When by sad fate from hence I summond am’.

ff. 111r-117r Sir John Beaumont, ‘Juvenal's Tenth Satire’. Copy titled ‘Juvenal’, beginning ‘In all the Countryes which from Gades extend’.

f. 118r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Oh why should I thy anger rewe’.

f. 119r John Donne, ‘Paradoxes and Problems’: ‘Problem II’. Copy titled ‘why doe puritans make longest sermons’.

ff. 120r-132v Copies of 65 epigrams, including epigrams by Sir John Harington.

f. 133r Thomas Carew, ‘Good counsell to a young Maid’. Copy titled ‘Good counsell to a mayd’, beginning ‘When you the sunburnt Pilgrim see’. Attributed to ‘T.C.’

f. 133r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Reder stand back dull not this marbell shrine’.

f. 134r William Skipwith, ‘A Chancerye Bille’. Attributed to ‘W Sk.’

f. 135r William Skipwith, ‘A Woeman’. Copy beginning ‘Hee’s jug’d, and damb’d that faith thou art noe more’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

f. 135v Untitled poem by William Skipwith. Beginning ‘If anie bee content with woordes; tis I’. Attributed to ‘W: Skip:’

f. 136r Untitled poem by William Skipwith. Beginning ‘Cowared awake out of this dreame of death’. Attributed to ‘W: Skip:’

f. 137r Untitled poem by William Skipwith. Beginning ‘O thou that art the Phoenix of our tyme’. Attributed to ‘W. Skip:’

f. 137r Untitled poem by William Skipwith. Beginning ‘O thou that art the Tigar of this age’. Attributed to ‘W Sk.’

ff. 138r-138v Letter from Sir Walter Ralegh to his wife. Beginning ‘You shall receave (my deare wife) my last wordes’. Attributed to ‘W: R’.

ff. 139r-141r Letter from Francis Phillips to King James VI and I. Beginning ‘If the thrones of Heaven and Earth were to be sollicyted’.

ff. 142r-143r W. Martin, ‘The oration made to the King when he came to London’. 1603. Beginning ‘The comon feares and difficulties which perplexe most confident Orators’.

f. 144r Letter from King Charles I to the University of Cambridge, 6 June 1626. Copy titled ‘King Charles his Letter to the universitie’, beginning ‘Trustie and welbeloved wee greet you well &c. wheras upon our pleasure intimated unto you’.

ff. 144r-145r Letter from George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, to the University of Cambridge, 7 June 1626. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Mr vice-chancellor and gentlemen the Senate of the university of Cambridge; there is noe one thinge that concernes me in this life I hould more deere’.

ff. 145v-146v Letter from Penelope Rich, Lady Rich, to Queen Elizabeth I. November 1599-1600. Copy titled ‘The Lady Riches Letter to Queene Elizabeth’, beginning ‘Early did I hope this morninge to have had myne eyes blessed with your Majesty’d beauties’.

ff. 147r-147v Letter from Sir Walter Ralegh to King James VI and I. Beginning ‘The life which I houlde most mighty Prince, the Lawe hath taken from me’.

f. 148r Untitled poem, beginning ‘I am resolved noe more to expose’.

ff. 148r-148v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Is it true I am derided’.

f. 148v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Why should you bee soe full of spighte’.

f. 148v Untitled couplet, beginning ‘hee that Love wounded flyes awaye’.

f. 149r Robert Herrick, ‘Advice to a Maid’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Love in thy youth fayre Mayde bee wise’.

ff. 149r-149v Robert Herrick, ‘Hide not thy love and mine shall be’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Hide not thy Love and myne shall bee’.

ff. 150r-150v Untitled poem, beginning ‘There is noe worldly pleasure here belowe’. Elsewhere attributed to Sir Robert Ayton.

ff. 150v-151r Untitled poem, beginning ‘What meanes this strangenesse nowe of Late’. Elsewhere attributed to Sir Robert Ayton.

f. 151r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Deare why doe you saye you Love’. Elsewhere attributed to Sir Robert Ayton.

ff. 151v-152r William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, ‘A stragling Lover reclaim'd’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Till nowe I never did beleeve’.

ff. 152v-153r Ben Jonson, ‘Eupheme. or, The Faire Fame Left to Posteritie Of that truly noble Lady, the Lady Venetia Digby. 3. The Picture of the Body’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Sittinge and readye to bee drawne’.

ff. 153r-154r Ben Jonson, ‘Eupheme. or, The Faire Fame Left to Posteritie Of that truly noble Lady, the Lady Venetia Digby. 4. The Mind’. Copy titled ‘The Minde’, beginning ‘Paynter you’r to me; but maye bee gone’.

f. 154v Poem titled ‘The princes verses for one of his Rockers’, beginning ‘Reade Royall Father, mighty Kings’.

f. 154v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Throwe deere that flatteringe glasse awaye’. Elsewhere attributed to Henry Reynolds.

f. 155r Thomas Carew, ‘Song. Murdring beautie’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Ile gaze noe more on her bewitchinge face’.

ff. 155r-155v Untitled poem, beginning ‘I never sawe thy face, nor dare I Chide’.

f. 155v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Faire broken modell of perfection rest’. A second copy of Lord George Digby, ‘On Sir Kenelm Digby’s Lady’ (first copy on f. 4).

ff. 156r-156v Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, ‘The Thought’. Copy titled ‘The thought’, beginning ‘If you doe Love as well as I’.

f. 156v Thomas Carew, ‘Secresie protested’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Feare not deare Love that Ile reveale’.

ff. 157r-157v Francis Beaumont, ‘The Examination of his Mistress's Perfections’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Stand still my happines and swell my harte’.

ff. 157v-158r Henry King, ‘The Surrender’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘My once deere Love, haplesse that I noe more’.

ff. 158r-158v Sir William Davenant, ‘To the King on New-yeares day 1630. Ode’. Copy titled ‘Mr Davenants Newyeeres guifte to Kinge Charles: 1631’, beginning ‘The Joyes of Eger youth, of wyne, and wealth’.

f. 158v Richard Corbett, ‘To his sonne Vincent Corbett’. Copy titled ‘upon the birth of my Sonne vincent Corbett’, beginning ‘What I shall Leave thee none cann tell’.

ff.159r-159v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Tis true I love thee and am as Loath to shewe’.

f. 159v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Betwixt two Suitors sate a Lady faire’.

ff. 160r-160v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Flora hath often doubtfully complained’.

ff. 160v-161r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Yett were Bidentalls sacred and the place’. Elsewhere attributed to Elizabeth Cary, Viscountess Falkland, and to John Eliot.

f. 161v Elizabeth Cary, Viscountess Falkland, ‘An Epitaph upon the death of the Duke of Buckingham’. Copy, titled ‘Another’, beginning ‘Reader stand still and Looke, for here I am’.

ff. 161v-162r Untitled poem, beginning ‘You whome my chance hath made my choyce’.

ff. 162r-163r Aurelian Townshend, ‘A Paradox’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘There is noe Lover, hee, or shee’.

f. 163r Elegy in hexameter for Leonard Digges (d. 1635). Attributed to ‘D.D.’ Latin.

ff. 163v-164r Elegy for Leonard Digges (d. 1635), titled ‘On the death of Mr Leonard Digges’. Beginning ‘Cann the dumbe accents of a vanisht breath’.

ff. 164r-164v Elegy in hexameter for Phillip Washinton. Attributed to ‘J.D.’ Latin.

ff. 164v-166r Poem titled ‘To his mistress the Usurye of time’, beginning ‘Lett Natures Fooles made of sullen earth’.

f. 166v Thomas Pestell, untitled poem beginning ‘The world is Gods lardge booke whereon wee Learne’.

ff. 167r-167v Henry King, ‘Upon the King's happy Returne from Scotland’. Copy titled ‘Uppon the Kinges happy returne from Scotlande’, beginning ‘Soe breake the daye, when the returneinge Sunne’.

ff. 167v-168r Poem titled ‘An Epitaph on Robert Munday who kept the bowleing alley and Ferry att Sawly who dy’d the: 20th of June 1625 being Munday morneinge’. Beginning ‘Monday is gone, howe shall the weeke bee guided’.

f. 168r Henry King, ‘An Elegy Upon the Bishopp of London John King’. Copy titled ‘An Elegy uppon the Bishop of London John Kinge’, beginning ‘Sadd relicke of a blessed soule whose trust’.

f. 168v Untitled poem beginning ‘Equall beautyes suite your Eyes’.

f. 169r Henry King, ‘Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Goe thou that vainely dost myne eyes invite’.

f. 169r Poem titled ‘A Riddle of a Gooseberrye’, beginning ‘There is a Bushe fitt for the nonce’.

f. 169v Henry King, ‘Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘I praye thee turne that face awaye’.

f. 169v Untitled poem, beginning ‘For thy owne sake oh Love, wince I was borne’.

f. 170r George Wither, ‘The Author's Resolution in a Sonnet’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Shall I wastinge in despayre’.

f. 170v Henry King, ‘Sonnet. The Double Rock’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Since thou hast vewed some Gorgon and art growne’. Second copy (first copy on f. 43r).

f. 170v Henry King, ‘The Retreit’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Pursue noe more (my thoughts) that false unkind’.

f. 171r Thomas Carew, ‘The protestation, a Sonnet’. Copy titled ‘Ciacono’, beginning ‘Noe moore shall medes bee deckt with flowers’.

ff. 171v-172r Henry King, ‘The Legacy’. Copy titled ‘The Legacye’, beginning ‘My deerest Love when thou and I must parte’.

f. 172v Aurelian Townshend, ‘To the Countess of Salisbury’. Untitled copy, beginning ‘Victorious Beautye, though your eyes’.

f. 173r Untitled poem, beginning ‘Farwell I faine would saye, as faine departe’.

ff. 173v-174r Poem titled ‘The Hermitts speech’, beginning ‘Wonder of beautye staye and passe noe further’.

f. 174v Poem titled ‘The Fayryes speech’, beginning ‘Heavens what doe I behould’.

ff. 175r-175v Untitled verse exchange, beginning ‘Faire Mayde more then pretious’.

ff. 175v-176r Poem titled ‘Writeinge Coppyes’, beginning ‘Sweet faire one, would you Learne to write’.

ff. 176r-176v Untitled poem by Henry Skipwith, beginning ‘Base, wilde, and vaine, bee all our worldly joyes’. Attributed to ‘Henry Skipwith:’.

f. 176v Untitled poem by Henry Skipwith, beginning ‘Oh thou eternall comfort of my soule’. Attributed to ‘Henry Skipwith’.

f. 177r Untitled poem beginning ‘Madam God knowes my power is lymited’.

f. 177v Untitled poem beginning ‘Some Husbands are too madd’.

ff. 178r-178v Poem titled ‘Posyes for Trenchers’, beginning ‘Gods mee what a guifte is this’.

f. 179r William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘Awake, awake, thou Mournefulst Muse of Nine’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk’.

f. 179r William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘What meanes my Muse, or is the Muser madd’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

f. 179v William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘Oh why have I sworne that you are faire and wyse’. Attributed to ‘W Sk:’

f. 179v William Skipwith, poem titled ‘My Lord’, beginning ‘Faithfull intents are free from superstition’. Attributed to ‘W Sk:’

f. 179v William Skipwith, poem titled ‘Madam’, beginning ‘Beggers and I for all wee doo receave’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

f. 180v William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘Sighe deepe my hart and breake and paye thy debte’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

ff. 180r-180v William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘Restore, restore againe, cruell restore’. Attributed to ‘W Sk:’

f. 180v Untitled poem beginning ‘Gallus that courtly gallante is become’.

f. 180v Poem titled ‘Madam’, beginning ‘Sicke is your servant, weake and sicke his muse’.

f. 181r Untitled poem beginning ‘Poore harte what makes thee sighe soe sore’.

f. 181r Untitled poem beginning ‘Come Muses come and helpe mee to expresse’.

f. 181v William Skipwith, poem titled ‘My Lord’, beginning ‘If health, or Fortune, or a good dayes happ’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

f. 181v William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘Late standinge in a Hawthorne tree’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

f. 182r Poem titled ‘To the Ladye that cannot Love’, beginning ‘Lett not, oh lett nott, deere deere Ladye lett not’.

f. 182v Untitled poem, beginning ‘Sheapard howe nowe what meanes that’.

f. 183r William Skipwith, untitled poem beginning ‘Blest bee all causes of that blessed thinge’. Attributed to ‘W: Sk:’

ff. 183r-183v Poem titled ‘Unckle’, beginning ‘My hart commands mee write because I love you’.

ff. 183v-185r Thomas Carew, ‘A Rapture’. Copy titled ‘A Rapture’, beginning ‘I will enjoye thee nowe my Caelia, come’. Attributed to ‘Thomas Carewe’.

f. 185v Sir Henry Wotton, ‘Upon the Sudden Restraint of the Earl of Somerset then falling from favour’. Copy titled ‘Upon the sudden restraint of a Favorite’, beginning ‘Dazeld thus with hight of place’. Attributed to ‘Hen: Wotten’.

f. 186r Untitled poem beginning ‘Unknowne I write to one I must not know’.