Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Thomas Otway

1652–1685

Introduction

Autograph Manuscripts and Inscriptions

A few examples of the playwright Thomas Otway's signature are known from inscriptions dating chiefly from his early student days (*OtT 19-22), including his inscribed exemplum of works by John Donne (*OtT 24).

On the basis of these, admittedly scant, samples of Otway's hand, a single authorial manuscript has been established as being entirely autograph: The Poet's Complaint of his Muse; or, A Satyr against Libells (*OtT 2). This unique manuscript of one of Otway's more interesting verse compositions could possibly be the printer's copy, although it bears no sign of printers' marks as such.

No original letters by Otway are known to survive, but only the text (no doubt very edited) of six love-letters allegedly Printed from the Original Copy in Familiar Letters: Written by the Right Honourable John late Earl of Rochester. And several other Persons of Honour and Quality (London, 1697). They are reprinted in Ghosh, II, 473-81.

Dramatic Works

Apart from extracts from his printed plays, no manuscript texts of any of Otway's plays are known — least of all any sign of the Four Acts of a Play which Otway was advertised in 1686 as having made sometime before his Death (Ghosh, I, 62-3). A few annotated exempla or prompt-books only bear witness to later productions of Otway's plays, notably his most famous play, Venice Preserv'd. Edward A. Langhans records in his Eighteenth Century British and Irish Promptbooks: A Descriptive Bibliography (New York, Westport, Conn., & London, 1987), pp. 122-5, four known prompt-books of Venice Preserv'd:

  • (i) An exemplum of the first edition (1682) containing some prudish manuscript cuts and alterations on pages 71 and 72 (British Library, 644.h.77).
  • (ii) An exemplum of the first edition (1682) lightly marked up, by or for the actor Spranger Barry, for a production at either Drury Lane on 16 February 1747 or Covent Garden on 21 December 1752?. (Victoria and Albert Museum, RP74/3036 BTMA 1959/W/30 S513-1985).
  • (iii) An exemplum of the London edition of 1758, marked up for a possible performance. (British Library, 11778. aa. 30 (3)).
  • (iv) An exemplum of a London edition [c.1783] marked up by Cromwell Price as his rehearsal copy for the role of Jaffeir in a private performance in Ireland. (Trinity College, Dublin, OLS 188 q 46 No. 16).

Several other late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century marked-up exempla of the play are also recorded. In addition prompt-books of a few other plays by Otway survive: notably a marked-up exemplum of the 1733 Dublin edition of The Cheats of Scapin (British Library, Rare Books, 11783, d.74); an exeplum of the 1680 edition of The History and Fall of Caius Marius marked up by William Rufus Chetwood for a revival in 1735 (Folger, PROMPT C8); and J.P. Kemble's prompt-book of The Orphan (in the Harvard Theatre Collection).

Various prologues and epilogues were written by other authors for different productions of plays by Otway. A few examples in manuscript, also recorded and discussed in Langhans, Eighteenth Century British and Irish Promptbooks, may be listed briefly:

  • An early-eighteenth-century prologue relating to an academic performance of The Cheats of Scapin, headed Prologue Spoken by One of the Queens Scholars of Westminster School who acted the part of Phormio in Terence, and afterwards playd Scapin, in the Cheat of Scapin, beginning When Rome's rough Warriors conquer'd learned Greece. Yale, Osborn MS c 111, pp. 102-3.
  • An eighteenth-century copy of an Epilogue to Don Carlos, Spoken by a Girl and beginning Now wt dy'e think my Message hither Means, among the collections of Thomas Birch (1705-66), biographer and historian. British Library, Add. MS 4457, f. 4r.
  • A manuscript Prologue to The History and Fall of Caius Marius as Acted at Southwick House. Bodleian, MS Rawl. poet. 129, f. 7r-v. Edited in Danchin, Prologues & Epilogues, IV, 633-4.

Various prologues and epilogues (by Matthew Prior and others) for eighteenth-century performances of The Orphan, some of which are discussed in The Literary Works of Matthew Prior, ed. H. Bunker Wright and Monroe K. Spears, 2nd edition, 2 vols (Oxford, 1971), II, 526, 982-3, include examples in the library of the Marquess of Bath at Longleat (Prior Papers, Vol. 27, ff. 8r-10r); in the British Library (Add. MS 27408, f. 124r and Add. MS 70369); in the Folger Library (MS E.a.3, pp. 122-3); in Worcester College, Oxford (MS 135: L. R. 8. 37); and at Yale (Osborn Poetry Box I/77 and I/73: Prologue beginning Unprologu'd Plays are like I know not what and Epilogue beginning I ask your pardon Ladys — But indeed).

Miscellaneous

A composite volume of Otway's plays once owned by William Congreve, with Congreve's signature on the first title-page, was sold at Sotheby's, 4 June 1930 (Duke of Leeds sale), lot 484 to Dobell.

Notes on Otway by William Oldys (1696-1761) are written in his exemplum of Gerard Langbaine, An Account of the English Dramatick Poets (Oxford, 1691), now in the British Library (C.28.g.1, pp. 395-400). A set of Otway's Works (3 vols, 1813 edition) annotated by George Thorn-Drury, KC (1860-1931), literary scholar and editor, is in the Bodleian Library (Thorn-Drury e. 8-10).

Abbreviations

Ghosh
The Works of Thomas Otway, ed. J.C. Ghosh, 2 vols (Oxford, 1932).

Verse

The Complaint. A Song To a new Scotch Tune of Mr. Farmers, By Mr. T.O. ('I love, I dote, I rave with pain')

First published in Miscellany, Being a Collection of Poems, ed. Aphra Behn (London, 1685). Ghosh, II, 470-1.

The Poet's Complaint of his Muse; or, A Satyr against Libells. A Poem ('To a high Hill where never yet stood Tree')

First published in London, 1680. Ghosh, II, 401-26.

*OtT 2
Autograph

Autograph fair copy, complete with signed dedication to Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory, on 22 pages of a quire of twelve folio leaves, in a paper wrapper bearing the title, possibly used as the printer's copy in 1680.

c.1680

The wrapper is inscribed The Author's own Manuscript. J. Merrick, D.V. Taverner. 1730's and, in the hand of John Loveday (1742-1809), Printed at Lond. 1680. qu…. Sotheby's, 8 June 1953 (Loveday sale), lot 156.

Facsimile of page 11 and of Otway's signature in Sotheby's sale catalogue (frontispiece and lot 156). Facsimile of page 12 in Margaret Crum, English and American Autographs in the Bodmeriana (Cologny-Geneva, 1977), p. 54. Facsimile also in IELM, II.ii (1993), Facsimile V, after p. xix.

The sixteenth Ode Of the second Book of Horace ('In Storms when Clouds the Moon do hide')

First published in Miscellany Poems (London, 1684). Ghosh, II, 447-8.

OtT 3

Copy, headed Book 2d. Ode. 16…by Mr. Otway. Tranquility of mind, so much desir'd by all, is attainable only by Bridling the appetite.

A folio verse miscellany, entitled The Muse's Magazine, or Poeticall Miscelanies, in two parts, in a single hand, 189 leaves.

Including 27 poems by Cowley; eleven poems by Katherine Philips, evidently derived from printed sources; 10 poems by Rochester, as well as apocryphal items; twelve poems by Sedley, plus one of doubtful authorship; and 15 poems by Waller, evidently derived from printed sources.

A note on a flyleaf relating to the bookseller John Dunton (1659-1733): John Dunton His Book, for which Mr. Corbet at ye Addisons Head, accepted One Half Guinea in full Payment for it, as Witness my Hand, Hannah Rakley. A note on f. 1: Since I had transcrib'd this whole Book, I met with some state Poems of these later times, mostly since K. George's Accession to the Crown [1714] which I have here inserted, as a supplement to these state Poems which make a part of this Collection by themselves. Date at the end of the volume: 1718, and some notes on a flyleaf dated 1724.

Early 18th century

The Mr. Corbet from whom Dunton purchased this MS was evidently the bookseller Thomas Corbett (fl. 1705-43), who ran his business at the Addison's Head, next to the Rose Tavern, without Temple Bar, from 1719 until his death in 1743. Neither Dunton nor Corbett are known to have used this MS for publication purposes.

Cited in IELM, II.ii (1993), as the Dunton MS: PsK Δ 8; RoJ Δ 4; SeC Δ 1; WaE Δ 10.

For John Dunton's career, see Stephen Parks, John Dunton and the English Book Trade: A Study of His Career with a Checklist of His Publications (New York & London, 1970).

OtT 4

Copy in a 19th-century hand.

An octavo miscellany of verse and prose, in English, Latin and Greek, predominantly in a single hand, with 19th-century additions (pp. 195 onwards, at least partly from earlier MS sources), 279 pages, in contemporary calf.

c.1644 (and later)

Inscribed (f. [ir]) William Han: 1644, probably by the academic compiler.

Yale, Osborn MS b 150 through Osborn MS b 199 (Osborn MS b 150 pp. 215-16)
OtT 5

Copy, headed Horace Ode 16 Liber 2 oluem Dives rogat &ca. By Mr Otway.

A folio verse miscellany, in a single neat hand, with some rubrication, 122 pages, with an index, in contemporary marbled boards.

With a title-page: Poems on Various Subjects Extracted cheifly from the Works of Some of the Most Celebrated Poets Scribendo Disces MDCCXLVII.

1747
Yale, Osborn, others (Osborn MS fc 60 pp. 48-9)
'Would you know how we meet'

A song attributed to Otway in early printed sources and possibly by him. First published, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell, in The Theater of Music, The Second Book (London, 1685).

OtT 6

Copy of the song, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell, untitled.

An oblong narrow volume of musical glees, catches, rounds, etc., in two hands, 96 leaves and pages (plus numerous blanks), in reversed calf.

c.1765

Inscribed inside the front cover Gilbert Heathcote.

Bodleian Library, Music MSS (MS Mus d. 177 f. 17r)
OtT 7

Copy of the song.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

A quarto miscellany of chiefly amatory verse, in several hands, i + 132 leaves.

Partly in Scottish dialect, one poem by mr. W. Turner.

Early 18th century
OtT 8

Copy of the song, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

A tall folio book of chiefly vocal music, the lyrics in a cursive italic hand, with (ff. 91r-2r) a later index, 92 leaves, in contemporary calf gilt within modern half red morocco.

c.1700s

Putttick & Simpson's, 25 August 1857, lot 269.

OtT 10

Copy of the song, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

A square-shaped folio volume of vocal and instrumental music, in two or more cursive italic hands, written from both ends, with (ff. 1v-2v, 96v rev) a table of contents, 97 leaves, in modern half red morocco.

c.1760s

Bookplate of Edmund Thomas Warren Horne, publisher, and probably the compiler. Puttick & Simpson's, 24 April 1873.

The British Library, Music Books and Manuscripts (Add. MS 29386 [Unspecified page numbers])
OtT 11

Copy of the song in a musical setting by Henry Purcell.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

Folio MS songbook.

Late 17th century
Royal College of Music (MS 1119 [unspecified page numbers])
OtT 12

Copy of the song, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

OtT 13

Copy of the song.

A duodecimo verse miscellany, in a largely secretary hand, 222 pages, in calf.

c.1705
Yale, Osborn, others (Osborn MS c 189 p. 158)
OtT 14

Copy of the song, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

An oblong quarto songbook, in one or possibly two hands, with a table of contents, vi + 128 pages, in contemporary blind-stamped calf.

c.1705-39

Owned, and possibly compiled, by William Knight (1684-1739), vicar choral (from 1712) and subchanter (from 1722) at York Minster.

York Minster (MS M. 12. S [unspecified page numbers])
OtT 15

Copy of the song, in a musical setting by Henry Purcell, in a MS music book.

Late 17th century?

In the Nanki Collection, Japan.

Recorded in Franklin B. Zimmerman, Henry Purcell: An Analytical Catalogue (London & New York, 1963), No. 290.

Dramatic Works

The Orphan

First published in London, 1680.

OtT 16

Extract.

A duodecimo miscellany of verse and prose, predominantly in a single non-professional hand, iv + 214 pages, in contemporary calf.

Inscribed (p. 211) I ended this book Novr. 13th 1723.

c.1723
OtT 17

Extract.

A quarto miscellany of verse and prose, 74 leaves, in a contemporary green vellum wallet binding.

Compiled, and partly composed, by Benjamin Coles, of Great Forster's, near Egham, Surrey.

c.1741

Inscribed (f. 74v) Jas. Foster Trusley / Derbyshire / Jos: Foster / Thulston / Derbyshire 1787.

Venice Preserv'd

First published in London, 1682. Ghosh, II, 197-289.

OtT 18

Extracts.

A duodecimo miscellany of verse and prose, predominantly in a single non-professional hand, iv + 214 pages, in contemporary calf.

Inscribed (p. 211) I ended this book Novr. 13th 1723.

c.1723

Documents

Document(s)
*OtT 19 1669
Autograph

The young Otway's autograph subscription, 27 May 1669.

Facsimile in Ghosh, I, frontispiece.

Subscription Register.

1660-93
Oxford University Archives (S.P. 41, Register Ae [unspecified page number])
*OtT 20 1671
Autograph

The young Otway's autograph signature, 28 September 1671.

Facsimile in Ghosh, I, frontispiece.

Book of cautions.

1657-1675
Christ Church, Oxford (MS xiii. b. 4 p. 155)
*OtT 21
Autograph

Otway's autograph signature, as witness, to a document in which Nell Gwynne granted power of attorney to James Frazier to receive her pension, on one folio page, 1 June 1680.

1680

Hart records that this document was formerly owned by Robert Cole, FSA, and sold in the Cole sale [at Puttick & Simpson's] on [29] July 1861 [3rd day, lot 599, to Simpson]. Sold, with two documents for payments to Nell Gwynne in 1680, at Puttick & Simpson's, 3 June 1878, lot 209.

This MS edited, with a rather poor facsimile of Otway's signature, in William Henry Hart, A Memorial of Nell Gwynne, the Actress, and Thomas Otway, the Dramatist (London, 1868). Recorded in Ghosh, I, 33.

Untraced, miscellaneous ([Otway document])
*OtT 22
Autograph

Otway's signed receipt and promissory note for the sum of £11 to Jacob Tonson, in the cursive hand possibly of a clerk, 30 June 1683.

1683

Sotheby's, 1 July 1925, lot 779, to Spenser. Formerly MS Files/Otway.

Yale, Osborn, others (Osb MSS File 11212)
OtT 23 1760-1786

Publishers' assignments of the copyright in Venice Preserv'd, variously dated 8 April 1760, 6 October 1764, 5 June 1783, and 19 December 1786.

A folio guardbook comprising Original Assignments of Copy-rights of Books and other Literary Agreements between various Publishers, from 1712 to 1822: collected by William Upcott [(1779-1845), antiquary and autograph collector] of the London Institution. 1825, in various hands and paper sizes, i + 207 leaves.

The British Library: Additional MSS, numbers 35000 through 39999 (Add. MS 38730 ff. 16v-17r, 47v-8r, 103r, 104v)

Printed Books Inscribed by Otway

Donne, John. Paradoxes, Problemes, Essayes, Characters (London, 1652), bound with Essayes in Divinity (London, 1651)
*OtT 24
Autograph

A printed exemplum, inscribed on a front endpaper by Otway, as a the nineteen-year-old Oxford student, Sum e Libris Tho: Otway ex Aede Christi Oxon 1671, and with his initials blind-stamped on the covers.

Sotheby's, 25 November 1957, lot 19, with a facsimile of the inscription in the sale catalogue. Blackwell's sale catalogue No. A17 (1981), item 62.

Untraced, miscellaneous ([Otway/Donne volume])

Miscellaneous Extracts from Works by Otway

Extracts
OtT 25

Extracts.

A quarto verse miscellany, 171 leaves, with an index, imperfect at the beginning, in contemporary calf (rebacked).

Compiled by Colonel Gabriel Lepipre, being the 4th Vol. of his compilations.

c.1748-50s

Donated in 1938 by F.F. Madan.

Bodleian Library, Eng. poet. e. MSS (MS Eng. poet. e. 40 [Unspecified page numbers])
OtT 26

Copy of verses headed Woman and beginning Your sex by beauty was to heaven allied, ascribed to Otway, on a single folio leaf.

A quarto volume of miscellaneous papers and correspondence of Anthony Hammond, MP (1668-1738), politician, 107 leaves.

OtT 27

A quarto verse miscellany, largely in one hand, with additions by others, written from both ends, material at the reverse end dated 1708-9, ii + 114 leaves, in 19th-century half-calf.

Inscribed (f. [iir]), probably by the compiler, Ex Libris Georgij Wright [b.1685/6] Sti Johannis Collegis Cantabrigiensis Alumni, Decimo quarto Junij. Annoq. Domini 1703.

c.1703-9

Also inscribed (f.[iir]) Mrs Frances Wright 1708. A postal address on f. 95r (rev.) reads: Direct to Margtt Borrett att Mrs. Borretts In Kirkby=stephen Westmoorland p brough bag _ These.

Recorded in IELM, II.ii, as the Wright MS: WaE Δ 12.

Edinburgh University Library (MS Dc. 3. 76 ff. 62r, 63r, 74r)
OtT 28

A series of extracts from Alcibiades. a Tragedy, Written by Tho: Otway. 4to. 1675. in Heroic Verse.

A set of three quarto verse miscellanies, largely in a single cursive hand, all transcribed from printed books, 276 + 340 + c.350 pages, in contemporary vellum boards.

Volume I with a title-page Scraps of Poetry On Winter, Its Opposites, & Concomitants: and many other agreeable Fragments all Collected Chiefly from borrowed Books Begun April 7th: 1760. and finished May 20th: 1760. By me Tho: Austen, Rochester.

Volume II, written from both ends, some pages in a second hand, dated 1765.

Volume III, written from both ends, entitled An Abstract of curious, odd, & comical Passages from old Plays as they came casually to hand, Begun Novembr. 1767.

1760-7

Donated by Edgar Huidekoper Wells (class of 1897).

Harvard, other MSS (MS Eng 611 Vol. III, pp. 20-7)
OtT 29

Eight lines of verse, headed Woman and beginning Thou art Woman! a true Copy of ye first, subscribed Otway.

A folio verse miscellany, in possibly two neat rounded hands, 366 pages plus a five-page index, dated at the end Finis August ye. 6th 1717.

1715-17
University of Chicago (MS 553 p. 15)

Contents