Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Thomas Lodge

1558–1625

Introduction

Letters

The only known examples of the secretary and italic handwriting of Thomas Lodge are a number of letters, which throw light on his personal, financial and literary life, as well as including moral exhortations and advice on keeping a commonplace book. The principal series addressed to William Trumbull (*LoT 18-29, *LoT 31) is largely recorded and the letters summarized, not always accurately, in HMC, 75, Downshire II (1936) and Downshire IV (1940). Before they were catalogued for the Trumbull sale at Sotheby's, 14 December 1989, lot 26, an overall view of them had appeared in Joseph W. Houppert, Thomas Lodge's Letters to William Trumbull, Renaissance News, 18 (1965), 117-23. In addition, a single letter addressed to Lodge by a correspondent can be recorded: one by W. Tenison To the worshipfull his Louinge frende mr Thomas Lodge Doctor in Physick, 9 March 1605[/6], in the National Archives, Kew (SP 14/19/39).

Miscellaneous Works

The other entries below include a few extracts from Lodge's works found in miscellanies and songbooks, and also two scribal copies of his medical handbook The Poore Mans Talentt (LoT 13-14), as well as a contemporary copy of one of his prescriptions (LoT 30).

Abbreviations

  • Gosse — The Complete Works of Thomas Lodge, [ed. Edmund Gosse], 4 vols, Hunterian Club (Glasgow, 1883; reprinted New York, 1963).

Verse

Anthenors Item, to all young Gentlemen ('The reckless race of youth's inconstant course')

First published in Euphves Shadow, The Battaile of the Sences (London, 1592). EV 23951.

See also LoT 12.

LoT 0.5

Copy.

In: A quarto verse miscellany, in an accomplished mixed hand throughout, with headings or incipts in engrossed lettering, 194 leaves, in 19th-century half-morocco.
c.1596-1601

This MS volume discussed in Katherine K. Gottschalk, Discoveries concerning British Library MS Harley 6910, MP, 77 (1979-80), 121-31.

'First shall the heauens want starrie light'

First published in Rosalynde. Euphues golden legacie (London, 1590). Gosse, I (Rosalynde, p. 38).

LoT 1

Copy, headed A Sonet of Constant assurance to his Mrs.

In: A quarto verse miscellany, including ten poems by Carew and one of doubtful authorship, in a single neat non-professional hand, 72 leaves (plus a later index).
c.1643-50s

Later owned by the Newcastle antiquarian collectors John Bell (1783-1864) and Robert White (1802-74).

Cited in IELM, II.i (1987), as the Bell-White MS, CwT Δ 30. Described, with facsimiles of ff. 30r and 56v, in T.G.S. Cain, The Bell/White MS: Some Unpublished Poems, ELR, 2 (1972), 260-70.

University of Newcastle upon Tyne (MS Bell/White 25 f. 60v)
An Ode ('Now I find thy lookes were fained')

First published in The Phoenix Nest (London, 1593). Phillis: Honoured with Pastorall Sonnets, Elegies, and amorous delights (London, 1593). Gosse, II, (p. 58). The song-version beginning Now I see thy looks were feigned first published in Thomas Ford, Musicke of Sundrie Kindes (London, 1607).

LoT 2

Copy, in a musical setting, untitled and here beginning Nowe I see thy lookes were fayned.

In: An oblong quarto songbook, the lyrics largely in a single italic hand, with (ff. 4v-5r) a table of contents, 84 leaves, in 19th-century red morocco gilt.

Inscribed (f. 3v), evidently by the compiler, Giles Earle his booke 1615 (with other notes dated 1610) and (f. 1v) Egidius Earle hunc librum possidet qui compactus fuit mense Septembris. 1626., f. 81r subscribed Anno Dni: 1623 / Mense Augusti: Finis.

c.1615-26

Acquired from Joseph Lilly, bookseller, 17 May 1862.

A complete facsimile of this volume in English Song 1600-1675, ed. Elise Bickford Jorgens, Vol. 1 (New York & London, 1986).

LoT 2.5

Copy, in a musical setting by Thomas Ford, here beginning Now I see thy looks were feigned.

In: An oblong folio songbook of glees and madrigals, chiefly written by the composer Philip Hayes (1738-97), 78 leaves.
Mid-late 18th century
LoT 3

Copy, in a musical setting by John Ford, here beginning Now I see thy looks were feigned.

This MS collated in John P. Cutts, Bishop Smith's Part-Song Books in Carlisle Cathedral Library (American Institute of Musicology, 1972), p. 61.

In: Two music part books compiled by Thomas Smith (1614-1701) of The Queen's College, Oxford, later Bishop of Carlisle.
c.1637

Formerly Carlisle Cathedral, Dean & Chapter of Carlisle MSS, Box B1.

These MSS discussed in John P. Cutts, Bishop Smith's Part-Song Books in Carlisle Cathedral Library (American Institute of Musicology, 1972).

Cumbria Archives, Carlisle (D&C Music 1 Bassus, p. 92)
LoT 4

Copy, here beginning Now I see thy Loue is fained.

In: A quarto verse miscellany, in a Scottish secretary hand, paginated 5-132, bound with a later verse MS on 98 pages, in brown calf.
c.1630s-40s

Bookplate of John Pinkerton (1758-1826), historian and poet. Sotheby's, April 1812 (Pinkerton sale), lot 593, to Richard Heber (1774-1833), book collector. Sotheby's, 1836 (Heber sale, Part XI), lot 1104, to Thomas Thorpe. His catalogue, 1836, bought by Laing.

LoT 5

Copy, in a musical setting, untitled and here beginning Now I see thy looks were fained.

In: An oblong quarto book of mainly vocal music, the lyrics in several largely secretary hands, one predominating, 90 pages (including blanks), in contemporary brown calf, both covers stamped in gilt I S.

Inscribed several times John Squyer, probably the compiler.

Mid-17th century

Also inscribed (p. 1) Ane Cattologue of books 1700, and (p. 25) Joanne Squier. Owned by David Laing in June 1855.

LoT 6

Copy, headed A Song and here beginning Now I see thy lookes are fained.

In: A quarto verse miscellany, largely in a single mixed hand, with additions in other hands, associated with Oxford University, possibly Christ Church, 315 pages (plus blanks), in modern black morocco gilt.

Including 11 poems by Donne, and 15 poems (plus one of uncertain authorship) by Corbett.

c.1630s

Later owned by Edward Jeremiah Curteis, M.P., of Windmill Hill, Sussex. Puttick & Simpson's, 30 June 1884 (Curteis sale), lot 175, to Pearson of Pall Mall for James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-89). Formerly Folger MS 452.5.

Cited in IELM, I.i (1980), and II.i (1987), as the Curteis MS: DnJ Δ 50 and CoR Δ 9. Discussed, with a facsimile example, in Arthur F. Marotti, Folger MSS V.a.89 and V.a.345: Reading Lyric Poetry in Manuscript, in The Reader Revealed, ed. Sabrina Alcorn Baron, et al. (Washington, DC, 2001), pp. 44-57. Discussed in Arthur F. Marotti, Christ Church, Oxford, and Beyond: Folger MS V.a.345 and Its Manuscript and Print Sources, SP 113 (2016), 850-78. A facsimile of p. 36 is in Chris R. Kyle and Jason Peacey, Breaking News: Renaissance Journalism and the Birth of the Newspaper (Washington, DC, 2008), p. 32.

LoT 7

Copy, in a musical setting, untitled and here beginning Now I sie thy lookes wer fainzied.

Edited from this MS in Nelly Diem, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Schottischen Musik im XVII. Jahrhundert (Zürich & Leipzig, 1919), pp. 99-100.

In: An oblong quarto songbook, the lyrics in two or more secretary and italic hands, iv + 43 leaves, in modern quarter-calf.

Inscribed (f. 31r) MAY 1639 and Williane Stirling. A long note (f. iir) in the hand of John Leyden (1775-1811), linguist and poet, dated 5 March 1800, recording his purchase of the MS in 1788 from the library of the Rev. Mr Cranstow, minister of Ancrum; his lending it to Alexander Campbell in 1795 and retrieving it in December 1799; and his now consigning it to Richard Heber (1774-1833), book collector.

c.1639

A complete facsimile of this volume is in English Song 1600-1675, ed. Elise Bickford Jorgens, Vol. 11 (New York & London, 1987).

LoT 8

Copy, in a musical setting, untitled, here beginning Now I sie thy lucks ar fained.

In: An oblong quarto songbook, the lyrics in a single secretary hand, 30 leaves (including blanks), in contemporary vellum gilt, with modern ties.
c.1630

Inscribed inside the front cover Ro Carre of Ferniehurst (1669), later fourth Lord Jedburgh. Initials L. A. K. stamped on the cover possibly denoting his wife, Lady Ann Ker.

LoT 8.5

Copy, untitled and here beginning Now I see thy looks ar fained.

In: An octavo verse miscellany, in various hands, including seventeen poems by Carew, a title-page inscribed A book of Verses / Seria mixta Jocis, c.260 pages, in calf blind-stamped V/I F 1667.

References to Westminster Drollerie (which was not published until 1671) added on pp. 1 and 242.

c.1667-8

Inscribed on the title-page Frendraught Legi: i.e. by James Crichton (d.1674/5), second Viscount Frendraught. Bookplate of Thomas Fraser Duff (1830-77), of Woodcote, Oxfordshire. Bloomsbury Book Auctions, 9 April 1987, lot 272 (with a facsimile of p. 131 in the sale catalogue), sold to Quaritch.

Estate of Robert S Pirie, New York ([Frendraught MS] pp. 245-6)
LoT 9

Copy, headed A songe and here beginning Now I see thy lookes were fained.

In: An octavo verse miscellany, in a single small mixed hand throughout; 425 pages (plus an eight-page index), in contemporary calf.

Including 45 poems (and a second copy of one) by Carew, 11 poems (plus one of doubtful authorship) by Corbett, and 25 poems (plus two of doubtful authorship) by Strode.

c.1634

The initials T. C. stamped on the front cover. Sold by Thomas Thorpe (1836). Afterwards in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt (1792-1872), manuscript and book collector: Phillipps MS 9536, and by Marsden J. Perry (1850-1935), of Providence, Rhode Island, industrialist, banker, and art and books collector. A.S.W. Rosenbach's sale catalogue English Poetry to 1700 (1941), item 189.

Cited in IELM, II.i-ii (1987-93), as the Rosenbach MS II: CwT Δ 32, CoR Δ 12, and StW Δ 24. Discussed in Scott Nixon, The Manuscript Sources of Thomas Carew's Poetry, EMS, 8 (2000), 186-224 (pp. 193-5).

Phoebes Sonnet a replie to Montanus passion ('Downe a downe: / Thus Phillis sung')

First published in Rosalynde. Euphues golden legacie (London, 1590). Gosse, I (Rosalynde, p. 47). The musical setting first published in Francis Pilkington, The First Booke of Bongs or Ayres (London, 1605). EV 18870.

LoT 10

Copies, in a musical setting by Francis Pilkington.

This MS collated in Doughtie, Lyrics from English Airs, p. 539.

In: A set of four oblong quarto music part books (Cantus, Quintus, Altus, Tenor and Bassus), including verses, ranging from 24 to 30 leaves each, in half-red calf marbled boards.

Compiled chiefly by Thomas Hamond (d.1662), of Cressners, in the parish of Hawkdons, Suffolk.

c.1630s

Also inscribed Marie Hammond.

Bodleian Library, Music MSS (MS Mus. f. 7-10 (i) fol. 22r; (ii) fol. 18v; (iii) fol. 21v; (iv) fol. 24r) | Catalogue | First Lines Index

Prose

The Divel coniured

First published in London, 1596. Gosse, Vol. III.

LoT 11

Extracts.

In: The greater part of a quarto commonplace book of extracts, compiled by Edward Pudsey (1573-1613), iii + 104 leaves, in 19th-century green morocco gilt.

Four leaves of this commonplace book are in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, ER 82/1/21.

c.1604-9

Owned in 1615-16 by one Bassett and in the 1880s by Richard Savage. At the Neligan sale, 2 August 1888, lot 1098. Bought by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-89), and his sale 4 July 1889, lot 1257.

All the Shakespearian texts except Othello were edited from this MS in Richard Savage's Shakespearean Extracts (1887). The MS also edited in Juliet Mary Gowan, An Edition of Edward Pudsey's Commonplace Book (c.1600-1615) (unpublished M. Phil., University of London, 1967). It was then found that the miscellany lacked several of its original leaves, including extracts from six plays by Shakespeare. These leaves were rediscovered in 1977 among Savage's papers at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, ER 82/1/21, and the Othello extracts identified by Gowan. The MS also discussed in J. Rees, Shakespeare and Edward Pudsey's Booke, 1600, N&Q, 237 (September 1992), 330-1; in Juliet Gowan, One Man in His Time: The Notebook of Edward Pudsey, Bodleian Library Record, 22 (2009), 94–101; in Fred Schurink, Manuscript Commonplace Books, Literature, and Reading in Early Modern England, HLQ, 73/3 (2010), 453-69 (pp. 465-9), with a facsimile of f. 31r on p. 467; and in Tom Lockwood, At Mr Marston’s Request: Edward Pudsey and the Inns of Court, N&Q, 63 (September 2016), 450-3.

Euphves Shadow, The Battaile of the Sences

First published in London, 1592. Gosse, Vol. II.

See also LoT 0.5.

LoT 12

Extracts.

In: A tall folio miscellany of extracts from prose romances, 56 leaves (including blanks), largely written on rectos only, in modern half morocco on cloth boards.
c.1600

Note stating this MS was lent to Sidney Lee (1859-1926), literary scholar, by James Lee.

The Poore Mans Talentt

A medical handbook, in twelve chapters, with a dedicatory epistle to Lady Anne, Countess of Arundel. First published in Gosse, Vol. IV (1883).

LoT 13
Copy of Lodge's medical handbook, in a professional secretary and italic hand, with a dedicatory epistle To the Right Honorable my very good Ladie the ladie Ann Mother Countesse of Arundell, on 65 quarto leaves, ff. 65v-7v containing additional receipts in two other hands, a quarto, originally in contemporary calf gilt (now detached) and rebound in modern half-morocco on cloth boards.

Probably a presentation copy to the dedicatee, the original covers bearing the Norfolk arms in gilt.

c.1623

Signed (f. [iiir]) by John Payne Collier (1789-1883), literary scholar, editor and forger, who notes (f. [iiv]) This MS. I bought at the sale of the books of the late Duke of Norfolk. Bookplate of Henry Charles Howard, of Greystock, Cumberland.

Edited from this MS in Gosse, with a facsimile of the dedicatory epistle, which he mistakenly believed to be autograph.

Rosalynde. Euphues Golden Legacie

First published in London, 1590. Gosse, Vol. I, last item.

LoT 15

Extracts.

In: A tall folio miscellany of extracts from prose romances, 56 leaves (including blanks), largely written on rectos only, in modern half morocco on cloth boards.
c.1600

Note stating this MS was lent to Sidney Lee (1859-1926), literary scholar, by James Lee.

LoT 15.5

Extracts of verse, beginning Of all chaste birds the Phoenix doth excel.

Gosse, I, p. 27.

In: An octavo commonplace book of verse and prose, in two or more secretary hands, 41 leaves, in a recycled illuminated vellum music document.

Inscribed (ff. 1r, 2r) Samuell Watts.

Early 17th century

Among the papers of the Sanford family. Formerly DD/SF 3970.

Somerset Heritage Centre (DD/SF/10/5/1 f. 29r-v) | Catalogue
The Workes of L.A. Seneca both morrall and naturall

First published in London, 1614.

LoT 16

Extracts from Lodge's translation, headed Ex Seneca obseruat, on 23 leaves.

In: An octavo commonplace book, in English and Latin, in a single cursive hand, written from both ends, 152 leaves, in contemporary calf.
c.1659

Owned by William Drake (1606-69) of Shardeloes, near Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Later in the library of Charles Kay Ogden (1889-1957), psychologist, linguist, and book collector.

Drake's commonplace books discussed in Stuart Clark, Wisdom Literature of the Seventeenth Century: A Guide to the Contents of the Bacon-Tottel Commonplace Books, Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 6, Part 5 (1976), 291-305; 7, Part 1 (1977), 46-73, and in Kevin Sharpe, Reading Revolutions (New Haven & London, 2000).

University College London (MS Ogden 7/13 f. [72r et seq)

Dramatic works

A Looking Glasse for London and England

See GrR 8.

Books and Manuscripts Owned by Lodge

Doutrina Christãa na lingoa Brasilica
LoT 17
A quarto manuscript of a catechism of Christian doctrine, in the Tupi-Guarini language of Brazil, with Portuguese rubrics, composed by a Jesuit missionary, written in double columns, ii + 109 leaves, inscribed Ex dono Thomæ Lodge D.M. Oxoniensis, qui sua manu e Brasilia deduxit.

Acquired by Lodge at Santos in 1591 when he sailed with Thomas Cavendish to Brazil. Donated by him to the Bodleian Library probably when he was incorporated M.D. at Oxford in 1602.

Late 16th century

Recorded in Eccles, p. 81. Facsimile of the title-page in The Last Voyage of Thomas Cavendish 1591-1592, ed. David Beers Quinn (Chicago, 1975), p. 22.

Letters

Letter(s)
*LoT 18 1607
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 13 April 1607.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), pp. 24-5. Facsimile in Sotheby's sale catalogue The Trumbull Papers, 14 December 1989, lot 26, p. 62.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1605-8, 182 leaves.

Volume XCVI of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 19 1607
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 23 April 1607.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), p. 94.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1605-8, 182 leaves.

Volume XCVI of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 20 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 20 February 1608/9.

Facsimile example in Sotheby's sale catalogue The Trumbull Papers, 14 December 1989, lot 26, p. 65.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1605-8, 182 leaves.

Volume XCVI of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 21 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 25 February 1608/9.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), pp. 249-50 (misdated 23 February 1609/10).

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1608-9, 169 leaves.

Volume XCVII of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 22 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 20 April 1609.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), pp. 92-4.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1608-9, 169 leaves.

Volume XCVII of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 23 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 2 July 1609.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), pp. 112-13.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1608-9, 169 leaves.

Volume XCVII of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 24 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 12 July 1609.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), pp. 114-15.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1608-9, 169 leaves.

Volume XCVII of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 25 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 21 September 1609.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), p. 140. Edited in Houppert, p. 122.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1608-9, 169 leaves.

Volume XCVII of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 26 1609
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 22 November 1609.

HMC, [75], Downshire, II (1936), pp. 189-90. Edited in Houppert, pp. 121-2.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1608-9, 169 leaves.

Volume XCVII of the Trumbull Papers.

*LoT 27 1611
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to Sir Thomas Edmondes, from London, 17 January 1610/11.

Facsimile in Greg, English Literary Autographs, Plate XIX.

In: A folio composite volume of diplomatic letters and papers, 1609-11, in various hands, 396 leaves.

Volume VI of the papers of Sir Thomas Edmondes (1592-1633), diplomat.

The British Library: Stowe MSS (Stowe MS 171 ff. 352r-3v) | Catalogue
*LoT 28 1613
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 7 October 1613.

HMC, [75], Downshire, IV (1940), p. 215.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 112 leaves.

Volume CIII of the Trumbull Papers.

1613
*LoT 29 1617
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, concerning Lodge's edition of Seneca, 4 December 1617.

HMC, 75, Downshire, VI (1995), p. 338.

In: A composite folio volume of official letters and papers of William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), English Resident at Brussels, in various hands, 1617, 136 leaves.

Volume CX of the Trumbull Papers.

1617
LoT 30 1618

A copy in Powle's hand of a letter, with a prescription, sent to him by Thomas Lodge, 20 August 1618.

Edited in N. Burton Paradise, Thomas Lodge: The History of an Elizabethan (New Haven, 1931), pp. 61-2.

In: A folio compendium or entry book of state letters and other documents and memoranda, in various secretary and italic hands, 231 leaves (including numerous blanks), in modern half-calf.

Compiled over a period, and partly written, by Sir Stephen Powle (c.1553-1630), Clerk of the Crown.

Bodleian Library, Tanner Collection (MS Tanner 169 ff. 191r-2r) | Catalogue
*LoT 31 1622
Autograph

Autograph letter signed by Lodge, to William Trumbull, 2 January 1621/2.

In: An unbound collection of letters sent to William Trumbull, Resident in Brussels, in various hands, 176 leaves, 1621-2.

Trumbull Papers Vol. CXXII.

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