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Title: Epitaph
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 1624 ?
Manuscript: Lt q 44
Contents: Elegiac epitaph or tombstone inscription lamenting the deaths of Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and his son James, Lord Wriothesley, in the Low Countries in 1624, as if spoken by their tomb. Cf. BCMSV 3408, 3409, 3410.
Title: Damon in pain, or The love-smitten swain. A sonnet.
Author: Wormington, Hugh
Date(s): 172- ?
Manuscript: Lt 80
Contents: Comic love song included within the long hudibrastic satire "Sir Fantastick" (BCMSV 3502). At end, "T.F." (?).
Title: Pallas with the Muses
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 16--
Manuscript: Lt 76
Contents: Describing the meeting of Pallas and the Muses at the fountain created by Pegasus; from Ovid's Metamorphoses, V.
Title: Motto
Author: Pope, Alexander
Attribution: Pope's Universal Prayer
Date(s): 1715
Manuscript: Lt 96
Contents: The final stanza of Alexander Pope's "Universal Prayer", urging praise of God, appended to James Merrick's "Benedicite"
Title: [unknown]
Author: Barnes, Joshua
Date(s): 1708
Manuscript: Lt 97
Contents: Recommending wine as the remedy for the malign influence of the dog star
Title: [unknown]
Author: Pulter, Lady Hester
Attribution: Hadassas
Date(s): 165- or 166- ?
Manuscript: Lt q 32
Contents: On the importance of a knowledge of mortality for living devoutly; religious
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 17-- ?
Manuscript: Lt 110
Contents: Proverb on the transience of worldly goods, used as heading to BCMSV 6064
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 17-- ?
Manuscript: Lt 110
Contents: Proverb on the relationship between wealth and fate, used as heading to BCMSV 6065
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 171- ?
Manuscript: Lt 110
Contents: Single couplet saying that he dare not declare his love to his beloved
Title: [unknown]
Author: Wodehouse, Sir Philip
Date(s): 166- or 167-?
Manuscript: Lt 40
Contents: Religious epigram on freewill and divine grace, attributed to St Bernard; translation
Mock poem or Whiggs supplicatione, by Samuel Colvil
Colvil, Samuel (1640-1680)
ca.1680
Long Hudibrastic satire largely on the Scottish Presbyterian covenanters, in two parts. Part One is preceded by "The Authors Appologie to the Reader", in prose. Part Two ends with a Latin version of t...
An attempt to explain whence the virtues of the Bath waters proceed
c.1680
Manuscript poem which wittily suggests that the waters of Bath work their cures not as a result of salts and minerals but because women bathe in them, thereby sending forth healing
Analecta Fairfaxiana, compiled by Charles Fairfax for his son Henry Fairfax.
Fairfax, Charles Colonel (1597-1673)
c.1648-1672
Contains a collection of Fairfax family records, written chiefly in Latin, but with some English poems and sentences included in it, by Charles Fairfax for his son Henry, including many coats-of-arms....
Title: On the Lord Lovelace's triumphant march into Oxford 1688
Author: Smith, John, 1662-1717
Date(s): 1688 (title)
Manuscript: Lt q 38
Contents: Comic ballad on the occupation of Oxford for the future William III by John,
3rd Baron Lovelace
Title: Cato's soliloquy. Cato solus, sitting in a thoughtful posture; in his hand
Plato's book on the immortality of the soul. A drawn sword on the table by
him.
Author: Addison, Joseph
Date(s): 1713 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 24
Contents: Cato's soliloquy from Addison's play "Cato," V.1, arguing for the immortality
of the soul after death, while contemplating suicide. At end, "23rd December
1740, B.Coles"
Title: [unknown]
Author: Coles, Benjamin ?
Attribution: B.C.; [Latin]
Date(s): 173- ?
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Moralising epigram on behaviour towards others; translating preceding Latin
verses
Title: A usefull meditation
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 16-- ?
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Doggerel verse on things to be kept in mind to achieve heaven, namely "Thy
death, the death of Christ, the deceit of the world, and glory of eternity and
the pains of hell," in turn translating preceding Latin. At end "16 January
1740/1."
Title: [unknown]
Author: Coles, Benjamin ?
Date(s): 1741 ?
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Witty couplet on love being fire, translated from preceding Latin verses,
included in a prose letter to a friend with a present of tobacco. At end, "B.
Coles, 1 January 1740/1."
Title: [unknown]
Author: Coles, Benjamin
Date(s): 173- ?
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Humorous couplet added by Coles to the prose remark "The grocers have a
common saying, when Ferdinando went to catch the devil he baited his hook with
a grocer," included in his autobiography.
Title: [unknown]
Date(s): 15-- ?
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Lines said to be engraved on Elizabeth I's pocket pistol presented to her by
Philip of Spain, displayed on Dover pier, claiming to be able to shoot as far
as France; included in Coles's prose autobiography.
Poems by Oliver Style
Style, Sir Oliver
c.1670-c.1710
Largely a compilation of poems by Oliver Style, probably autograph, copied 1698-1703, with some items added in a second hand.
Lisy's parting with her cat, by James Thomson
Thomson, James (1700-1748)
c.1725
Description of a girl leaving for boarding school (probably Thomson's sister Elizabeth) sorrowfully taking leave of her pet cat, imagining the cat's own lament at the separation. The poem, one of Thom...
Title: The king of hearts
Author: Mainwaring, Arthur
Date(s): 1690
Manuscript: Lt q 38
Contents: Satirical mock-heroic attack on Henry Booth, Baron Delamere and Earl of
Warrington, for his ostentatious support for William III
Title: The snail
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: A Welch curate
Date(s): 173- ?
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Lighthearted poem in which a Welsh curate praises a snail and wishes he too
could move his house, but is then forced by hunger to eat the snail. At end,
"25th February 1740/1".
Title: To Miss Walter of Grosvenor-Square on her birth-day, June 17, 1766
Author: Scott, William
Attribution: William Scott, St Sepulchre's, Snow-Hill, June 16, 1766 [at end]
Date(s): 1766
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Birthday poem for a Miss Harriet Walter, praising her virtues, recalling the
previous year's event and anticipating the next
Title: A pastoral
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 176- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Pastoral dialogue between two shepherds, Palemon and Alexis, their
contrasting attitudes to the beauty of the landscape determined by the
respective presence and absence of their beloved Phillida and Daphne. With a
marginal alternative reading, annotated
Title: A ballad
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Gazetteer of [Saturday] October 17, [17]67
Date(s): 1767 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Pastoral love poem, praising the beauty of his beloved's mind as more
important than physical beauty
Title: Epilogue to the Widow'd Wife, spoken by Mrs Clive
Author: Kenrick, William ?
Attribution: The Gazetteer of [Friday] Dec. 11, 1767
Date(s): 1767 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Epilogue to William Kenrick's play "The Widow'd Wife", urging the audience to
continue their patronage, and pretending, like a doctor, to take the pulse of
their reactions to the performance. Spoken by the actress Kitty Clive.
Title: A small fragment of my Lord Russel's elogy, whose much lamented execution was
performed in Lincoln's Inn Fields on the 21st day of July 1683
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: Copied from the first (originally) plain leaf of F. Vansleb's Travels printed
Date(s): 1683 ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Fragment of an elegy lamenting the execution and death of William Lord
Russell in 1683. One line corrected and signed G.S.
Title: On seeing Mr Wilkes on the hustings at Guildhall
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Gazetteer, [Friday] March 26, 1768
Date(s): 1768 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Eulogistic praise of the politician John Wilkes as a champion of liberty.
With a note: "The last line sounds oddly, if not hibernically".
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: [The Gazetteer], March 21, 1768
Date(s): 1768 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Partially critical epitaph on Laurence Sterne, following a prose notice of
his death
Title: To the fair authoress of an epigram, in answer to an illiberal abuse of the
late Rev. Dr Sterne
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: [The Gazetteer], March 21, 1768
Date(s): 1768 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Answer to a criticism of Laurence Sterne (possibly the preceding BCMSV 1006),
representing envy as unable to harm his memory
Title: An ode
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 1762 ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Celebration of the birth of the future George IV, anticipating his reign;
praising George III and Queen Charlotte
Title: The beau parson. Addressed to the Revd. Mr John Horne (Minister or Curate of
Brentford)
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: Gazetteer, [Friday] Dec. 30, 1768
Date(s): 1768 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Satire on a clergyman, John Horne, concerned with his external appearance
(hair and clothes) instead of religion. With a marginal note on the layout of
the verse.
The life and actions of W.S. written by himself during his confinement in the tower at Liverpool.
Shevington, William
1796
Contains a long English autobiographical poem which was possibly copied from the printed Manchester 1750 edition noted in Foxon's 'English verse 1701-1750', L179. The 1772 (?) edition noted in ESTC na...
Title: Psalm XV. Religion & justice, goodness, & truth, or the duties to God, or
the qualities of a Christian
Author: Watts, Isaac
Attribution: [Bible]
Date(s): 1719 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Religious poem, paraphrasing Psalm 15
Title: The kind inquiry
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Gazetteer of [Wednesday] Jan. 4, 1769
Date(s): 1769 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: On the clergyman John Horne of Brentford. Followed by a prose note of his
friendship with the politician John Wilkes, whose victory in an election for a
London alderman he had helped to secure
Title: To the author of some lines in yesterday's Gazetteer addressed to the Revd.
Mr Horne
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: From the above mentioned Gazetteer [Jan 4, 1769?]
Date(s): 1768
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: In defence of the clergyman John Horne of Brentford, criticised for attention
to his external appearance, especially his clothes (see BCMSV 1009), praising
his mind. Dated Dec. 31, 1768
Title: The doctor and alderman over head & ears in the hyp. with a consultation upon
the case. [...An Oxford ballad (index)]:
Author: Bacon, Phanuel
Attribution: The ever-punning lively Dr Phanuel Bacon, Rector of Marsh Balden, heretofore
Date(s): 1760's ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Comic tale or song lightly satirising a hypochondriac doctor and alderman who
believe they are seriously ill only to discover they are wearing each other's
wigs; the last stanza a drinking "Full chorus". They are identified in a note
as Dr Lewis, late Stu
Title: An address to the young ladies [index]
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: A.B.
Date(s): 176- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Advice to young women to behave reverently in church, taking as example the
flirtatious Kitty who adjusts her behaviour accordingly. Headed: "A.B. desires
we will insert the following address to the young ladies at church, in
compliance with a very good i
Title: A rebus
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 176- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: A rebus or riddle, the answer (not given) being the name of a city.
Subscribed "O's Coll.", perhaps referring to Oxford
Title: Extempore lines on a late translation of French sermons. Addressed to Dr D-d
[Dod, margin].
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: Antigallican. Gazette, [Friday] Sept. 15, 1769
Date(s): 1769 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Criticism of Dr William Dodd for translating French sermons when Britain has
a sufficiency of authors able to give advice to George III
Title: Upon the death of the most noble John Manners, Marquis of Granby and Colonel
of the Blues. [Two epigrams on ... (index, cf.BCMSV 1017).]:
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Old British Spy and London Weekly Journal, [Saturday] Oct.27, 1770
Date(s): 1770 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Epigrammatic lament for the death of John Manners, Marquis of Granby, punning
on his surname
Title: Upon the same [i.e. the death of ... John Manners, Marquis of Granby]. [Two:
epigrams on ... (index, cf. BCMSV 1016).]:
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 1770
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Epigrammatic lament for the death of John Manners, Marquis of Granby, punning
on his surname
Title: Regnier's epitaph, made by himself
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: London Magazine April (?) 1771 p.655 col.21; [French]
Date(s): 1771 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Epitaph for the satirist Mathurin Regnier, translating preceding French lines
written by himself reflecting on his carefree life. With a note, "A very
athiestical epitaph, but very well translated (closely) and at least equally
witty in the translation wi
Title: The post from Parnassus. An epigram. [Epigram on Lord North (index).]
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The London Packet; or, New Evening Post. From Monday July 1 to Wednesday
Date(s): 1771 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Satirical attack on Frederick North, Earl of Guilford (Lord North), for his
subservience to the wishes of George III
Commonplace book containing draft legal warrants, culinary and medical recipes, mathematical notes, moral precepts, and English verse from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
c.1650-1730
Contains, from one end, 'tables of the names of all the warrants contained in this booke made 1658', followed by a book of recipes, and, from the other end, an 'enumeration table' of various mathemati...
Title: Psalm CXXXIX. God is everywhere
Author: Watts, Isaac
Attribution: [Bible]
Date(s): 1719 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Religious poem, paraphrasing Psalm 139. Lacks stanzas 7 and 8.
Title: A song in Harlequin Skeleton sung by Mr Dunstall in the character of a woman
ballad-singer, entitled The Stockwell Wonder. To the tune of King John and the
Abbot of Canterbury
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Craftsman; or, Say's Weekly Journal, [Saturday] March 7, 1772, page 4,
Date(s): 1772 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Song from the pantomime play "Harlequin Skeleton", making out that the
magical phenomenon of dancing household objects is caused by the natural
enchantment of a beautiful girl.
Title: [A distich under the signs of a public-house in Havering (index)]
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: At Havering in Essex a man who kept the sign of the Leather-Bottle went to
Date(s): 177- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Witty pun on the words boar and (it seems) bore, in a drinking context
Title: A song called The Brown Jugg
Author: Fawkes, Francis
Attribution: The Revd Mr Fawkes
Date(s): 1761 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Comic drinking song, telling how the brown jug was made by a potter out of
the mortal remains of Toby Fillpot (or Philpotts), a famous drinker
Title: An epitaph on the monument of the late worthy and rev. Mr Brighton [Beighton]
(sic) of Egham, who was vicar of that place forty-five years
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Craftsman, or Say's Weekly Journal for [Saturday] June 20 1772, p.4 col.3
Date(s): 1772 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Epitaph on a clergyman, Mr Beighton, praising unreservedly his virtues as a
parish priest
Title: A poem of Dean Swift's copied from a lady's transcript
Author: Swift, Jonathan
Attribution: Dean Swift
Date(s): 1730 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Witty self-deprecatory apology to Lady Carteret, wife of the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, for failing to fulfil a dinner engagement, telling how she in turn
found his lifesyle difficult to bear on visiting him
Title: The sigh. On a lady deceased. [An elogy ... on the death of his wife:
(index)].
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: An afflicted husband [A gentleman (index)]. The Craftsman, or Say's Weekly
Date(s): 1772 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Elegiac lament for the death of a lady, praising her social and domestic
virtues
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 177- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: On the refusal of the beautiful Fanny Brooks to consider marrying a
university man. Cf BCMSV 1027.
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 177- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: On the effects of time on the beauty of Fanny Brooks. Cf. BCMSV 1026.
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 177- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: On the death of one Tom Rowney, who has thus left Oxford University men his
wife. Cf BCMSV 1029.
Title: [unknown]
Author: Anonymous
Date(s): 177- ?
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: Epitaph on the restless (unfaithful?) wife of Tom Rowney. Cf BCMSV 1028.
Title: Psalm XXIII. God our sheepherd
Author: Watts, Isaac
Attribution: [Bible]
Date(s): 1719 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 53
Contents: Religious poem in praise of God as mankind's protector, comforter and guide,
paraphrasing Psalm 23. At end, "Great Forster's, 26th February 1740/1".
Title: ... As John Watson Esq. of Walthamstow in Essex was transacting some business:
in ths house of Justice Bertie at Lowlayton, he dropped down in an apoplectic
fit and expired immediately. I have heard verses to the following effect were
put up at his gate s
Author: Anonymous
Attribution: The Craftsman, or Say's Weekly Journal, [Saturday] Jan. 9, 1773, p.1, col.2.
Date(s): 1773 (published)
Manuscript: Lt 12
Contents: On the death of one John Watson, outspokenly disparaging his life and
character