Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Ann Bathurst

c.1638–c.1704

Introduction

Ann Bathurst was a somewhat fanatical religious mystic and visionary, who was eventually regarded as one of the prophets of the Philadelphian Society founded in 1697. She left a spiritual diary, including an eight-page autobiography, which now exists in three manuscript volumes covering the years 1679-96 (BtA 1-3). Since several hands appear in these manuscripts, it is not certain that her hand is one of them, and it may be that more than one copy was made from her originals by members of her circle.

Otherwise three letters by her are known in contemporary copies (BtA 5). The same source, Bodleian MSS Rawl D 832 and 833, contains other papers relating to her Philadelphian Society, including an account of a spiritual communication to her.

Verse and Prose

Rhapsodical Meditations and Visions [Volume I]

Unpublished.

BtA 1

MS, in at least two small cursive hands, entitled Rhapsodical meditations and visions by Mrs Ann Bathurst, from 17 March, 1679 to 29 June, 1693, 607 large quarto pages, in quarter-vellum marbled boards.

c.1693-1704

Inscribed on the first page This Book belong's to Dr Heath's Library at Mrs Brackley's in Tufton Street Westminster.

BtA 2

Copy, in several hands, with corrections or revisions, covering only the period from 11 June to 19 September 1679, untitled, 68 quarto leaves, in a recycled vellum deed dated 1673 within modern brown morocco.

c.1673-1704
Rhapsodical Meditations and Visions [Volume II]

Unpublished.

BtA 4

Copy, in at least three cursive hands, covering the period from 31 June 1693 to 21 October 1696, untitled, 99 quarto leaves, in boards.

Inscribed on the front paste-down Mrs Ann Bathurst's Writings. vol. 2. from Ann. 1693. to 1696. wch with vol. 1 contains all that she wrote.

c.1696-1704

Letters

Letter(s)
BtA 5 c.1693-1704

Roach's copies of three letters by Ann Bathurst, to an aged aristocratic lady (1693); to Roach and Francis Lee (9 July 1695); and to an unidentified person (undated).

A folio composite volume of correspondence of the Rev. Richard Roach (fl.1697-1727), Fellow of St John's College, Oxford, and Rector of Hackney, in various hands, 321 leaves.

c.1700

Contents