Add MS 41846

MIDDLETON PAPERS. Vol. XLIV (ff. 205). Kenelm Digby Papers, consisting of correspondence and miscellaneous papers of Sir Kenelm Digby (d. 1665), illustrating his multifarious interests in literature, philosophy, theology and alchemy; 1636/7-1663, n.d. Autograph, unless otherwise stated. For other portions of the same collection see 'Manuscripts of Sir K. Digby' in The National Library of Wales Journal, i, no. 2, 1939, pp. 89-90; cf. also ibid., ix, no. 2, 1955, pp. 113-148. A number of the items are transcribed in Harley MS. 4153. The present papers have been used by E. W. Bligh, Sir Kenelm Digby and his Venetia, 1932. Cf. also Brit. Mus. Quart., iv, 1929-1930, pp. 82, 83. Arranged as follows:-

A. Correspondence of Sir Kenelm Digby, viz...- (1) Digby to Père Hilaire, Lector of Theology at the Carmelites, Tours; Paris, 8 Jan. 163.7/8. French. Beg. 'Ce nest pas des moindres'. Also in Harley MS. 4153, f. 88. Followed (f. 11) by Père Hilaire's reply, Tours, 8 Feb., beg. 'Ce seroit trop'. ff. 1-13.

(2) George Digbye, [2nd Earl of Bristol 1653], to Sir K. Digby, Sherbor[ne]; 2 Nov. 1638. Signed (?). Followed by two copies each of Digby's two replies (also in Harley MS. 4153, ff. 46-60), the whole being the first three letters printed in Letters between The Ld George Digby and Sr Kenelm Digby kt Concerning Religion, 1651. ff. 14-35.

(3) Digby to Sir Tobie Matthew, three letters, viz.:-(a) 'Tonbridge Welles'; 16 Aug. 1640, beg. 'If j durst'. Printed, with textual differences, in A Collection of Letters made by Sr. Tobie Mathews Kt., 1660, p. 216, and, as here, in Bligh, op. Cit., p. 240. f. 36;-(b) Spaw [Spa], 29 Aug. 1641, beg. 'I haue obserued'. Also in Harley MS. 4153, f. 21, with the text as altered in the original. Cf. Bligh, op. cit., p. 259. ff. 37-54b;-

(c) Liége, 15 Sept. 1641, beg. 'I thinks'. Also in Harley MS. 4153, f. 38. Printed in Bligh, op. cit., p. 242. ff. 55-57b.

(4) Note by Digby of lodgings, etc., in Antwerp and Amsterdam; n.d. Partly French. Beg. 'Maistre Thomas qui tient pension'. f. 58.

(5) Two letters of Digby, beg. 'Sir, There are so many' and 'Sir, I am sorry'; circ. 1642-1643 (cf. Times Lit. Suppl., 1932, p. 643). Printed in Bligh, op. cit., pp. 114, 116. ff. 59-63 b.

(6) Two letters of Digby, beg. 'Madame, The seuerest Judge' and 'Madame, If a short'; circ. I642-I643 (TimesLit. Suppl., loc. cit.). Printed in Bligh, op. cit., pp. 108, 110 (with plate of the letter). ff. 64-66 b.

(7) John Ponce, Franciscan, to Digby, enclosing 'Obseruations made on Sir Kellam Digby his litle booke intitled of the infallibilitie of religion, printed in Paris 1658'; n.d. The book alluded to is entitled, according to the 1652 edition: A Discourse concerning Infallibility in Religion. ff. 67-73.

(8) Digby to Jean Commandaire; 'Francfort'; 2 Feb. 1659/60 French. Beg. 'Je ne veux doubter'. f. 75.

(9) Petition of Digby to the King against Catholic disabilities; [circ. 1660]. Beg. 'In the behalfe'. With autograph corrections. ff. 76-79.

(10) F. Schaub to Digby; Horten, [in Norway], 1/11 Dec. 1661. German. Beg. 'Monseigneur, Nachdeme Ewer Excellens'. f. 80.

(11) Thomas White, Catholic controversialist, to Digby, with criticisms of the Evangelium Armatum, [1663]; 29 Apr. [1663 ?]. Beg. 'Euer hond Sir, Yr commands'. ff. 84-86.

(12) [George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol,] to 'Mr. Jackson', with instructions rel. to two acts of a play which he wishes to be shown to Sir William [Davenant], and discussing the principle of number and cadence in verse and the proper use in English of the words 'diversion' and'divertisement','sense' and'sentiment' (it transpires from the letter that a character of the play is called Lilarda); 29 Dec. 1663. ff. 88-89.

(13) Digby to Père [Marin] Mersenne; n.d. French. Copy. Beg. 'Je viens tout'. ff. 90-91.

(14) Digby 'to a Gentelwoman intending a religious course'; n.d. Copy. Beg. 'After a long'. Cf. Bligh, op. cit., p. 251. ff. 92-95b.

(15) Digby, letter beg. 'Madame, Il fault auouer' n.d. French. Copy. Also in Harley MS. 4153, f. 107. ff. 96-101. B. Miscellaneous papers of Sir Kenelm Digby, viz.:-

(1) Petrarch's description of Laura, copied by Digby from Digby MS. 141, presented by him to the Bodleian Library in 1634. Latin. Beg. 'Laurea, propriis virtutibus'. Plate in Bligh, op. cit., opp. p. 206. f. 102.

(2) 'To the Reader', by Digby, beg. 'The generally knowne', prefixed to Sir Tobie Matthew's translation of the Confessions of St Augustine (2nd ed., Paris, 1638). Cf. Bligh, op. cit., p. 221. ff. 104b-105.

(3) 'A note that j wrote vpon two tome pages of wast paper, att the end of fullers holy warre; after j had read it hastily, vpon the coming of it out an°. 1639'. Copy, with corrections and endorsement by Digby. Beg. 'This booke, intituled'. Cf. Bligh, op. cit., p. 221. ff. 106-107b.

(4) 'Concerning Spencer That I wrote att Mr [Thomas] May his desire'; n.d. This criticism of Spenser by Digby is printed in Bligh, op. cit., pp. 277-280; cf. also p. 220. Also in Harley MS. 4153, ff. 1-5 b. Beg. 'Whosoeuer will deliuer'. ff. 108-111.

(5) Preface to a History of Belgium, beg. 'Belgarum Nationes'; n.d. Latin. Copy. f. 112.

(6) Speech by Digby in the House of Commons on the charge brought against him by John Dutton, M.P., of seducing [Thomas Pope, 2nd] Earl of Downe (Dutton's son-in-law) to Catholicism; [1641]. Beg. 'it hath bin vsually obserued'. Draft. Extract in Bligh, op. cit., p. 232 (cf. also p. 75). ff. 113-117b.

(7) Four orations (the first three autograph drafts, the last a copy) by Digby, delivered to the Accademia dei Filomati at Siena; n.d. Italian. ff. 118-141b.

(8)'Discours Academique' on Happiness, beg. 'Messieurs, Si la verité';n.d.French. Also in Harley MS.4153,ff. 135-153b. ff. 143-150.

(9)Five meditations in retreat, beg.'MonDieu, mevoicymaintenant'-, n.d. French. Draft. ff. 151-165.

(10) Controversial fragments on communion under one species, etc., the first dated 27 Feb. 1637. ff. 166-168.

(11) Pro-Catholic tract, beg. 'Thinges naturally intelligible' (not in Digby's hand); n.d. ff. 169-175b.

(12) 'That the Laws against Catholikes are unjust', etc., beg. 'Because the first Laws'; n.d. Copy. ff. 176-177b.

(13) Outline of a tract by Digby, 'That it belongeth in chiefe vnto the office of a supreme Gouernour, to make his subiects bee of good life', followed by twenty-one chapter headings; n.d. ff. 178-179.

(14) 'The Supernumerary Chapter That without Virtue Officers wil not bee Vigilant', beg. 'Vigilancy in human action', in the hand of Thomas White (cf. f. 84); n.d. Perhaps to be associated with the preceding article. ff. 180-181.

(15) Alchemical notes headed 'Doctor floyde', one dated 12 Aug. 1663, followed (ff. 184-192) by alchemical recipes in Italian and French, and (f. 193) by chap. i of a work entitled 'Quod futurorum per Astronomiam praecognitio sit quaedam ars et quousque progrediatur'. ff. 182-193.

(16) 'Arca Studiorum', design for an index cabinet with instructions for use, by a friend of Samuel Hartlib (cf. f. 204), shortly after the publication of Conatuum Comenianorum Praeludia, 1637. Latin. Beg. 'In' studiis ornandis'. ff. 194b-204.

Philosophy: Correspondence and papers of Sir K. Digby: 1636-1663, n.d.: Partly autogr.

Sir Kenelm Digby: Correspondence and papers: 1637-1663, n.d.: Mainly autogr.

includes:

• ff. 1, 11 Hilaire, Père; Lector of Theology, Tours: Correspondence with Sir K. Digby: 1638.: Fr.
• ff. 14-34 George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol: Correspondence with Sir K. Digby: 1638-1639.: Copies.
• ff. 36-57b Sir Tobie Matthew, diplomatist and writer: Letters to, from Sir K. Digby: 1640-1641.
• f. 67 John Ponce, Franciscan: Letter to Sir K. Digby: circ. 1658.
• ff. 70-73 John Ponce, Franciscan: Observations on Sir K. Digby's 'Discourse concerning Infallibility': circ. 1658.
• f. 75 Jean Commandaire: Letter to, from Sir K. Digby: 1659.: Fr.
• f. 76 Roman Catholics: Petition of Sir K. Digby to Charles II on behalf of,: circ. 1660.: Draft, with autogr.corrections.
• f. 80 F. Schaub, of Horten, in Norway: Letter to Sir K. Digby: 1661.: Germ.
• f. 84 Thomas White, Catholic controversialist: Letter to Sir K. Digby: [1663?].
• f. 88 George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol: Letter to -Jackson: 1663.: Autogr.
• f. 88 Jackson: Letter to, from Lord Bristol: 1663.
• f. 90 Marin Mersenne, philosopher: Letter to, from Sir K. Digby: n.d.: Fr.: Copy.
• f. 105 Sir Tobie Matthew, diplomatist and writer: Preface by Sir K. Digby to his translation of St Augustine's Confessions: 1638.
• ff. 108-111 Edmund Spenser, poet: Criticism of, by Sir K. Digby: n.d.
• f. 112 Belgium: Preface to a history of: 17th cent.: Lat.
• ff. 113-117b Thomas Pope, 2nd Earl of Downe: Defence to the Commons by Sir K. Digby on charge of religious seduction of: 1641.: Draft.
• ff. 118-141b Siena, Italy: Orations by Sir K. Digby before th Accademia dei Filomati of: n.d.: Ital.
• ff. 151-165 Prayers: Meditations by Sir K. Digby: 17th cent.: Fr.
• ff. 166-175b Theology ENGLISH: Pro-Catholic tracts by Sir K. Digby, etc.: 1637, n.d.
• ff. 176-177b Roman Catholics: Notes on laws, etc., against: 17th cent.
• ff. 178-179 Political Tracts: Outline of a Governor's duty, by Sir K. Digby: late 17th cent.
• ff. 180-181 Political Tracts: 'Without virtue officers will not be vigilant': late 17th cent.
• ff. 180-181 Thomas White, Catholic controversialist: Tract in hand of: n.d.
• ff. 182-193 Alchemy: Notes, recipes, etc., by Sir K. Digby and others: 1663, n.d.: Engl., Ital. and Fr.
• ff. 194b-204 Inventions: 'Arca Studiorum', design for an index cabinet: aft. 1637.
• ff. 194b-204 Arca Studiorum: Design for an index cabinet with instructions for sec: circ. 1637.: Lat.