Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Katherine Ross

c.1635–1697

Introduction

The radical Scottish covenanter Katherine Ross (née Collace) wrote, at the urging of her religious counsellors (I having been challenged for not setting down some remarkable passages of my life), her Memoirs or spiritual exercises, which were published posthumously in 1735. They clearly had some measure of circulation in manuscript, perhaps before and certainly after her death in 1697. Three closely related manuscript copies are currently recorded (RoK 1-3), all also containing memoirs by her sister Jean Collace.

Prose

Memoirs or spiritual exercises of Mrs Ross

First published in Edinburgh, 1735.

RoK 1 c.1697-1735

Copy of autobiographical writings and meditations by Katherine Ross, in a neat italic hand, transcribed after her death, followed (on ff. 78v-126v) by similar autobiographical writings by her sister Jean Collace, including (ff. 78v-9v) meditations on Ross's death.

Described in the online Perdita Project.

A quarto composite volume of writings by Scottish covenanters, in two hands, iii + 126 leaves, in old half-calf marbled boards.

Including (ff. 1r-26v) copies of 38 letters by the preacher John Welwood, while he was Preaching up & downe Scotland, in ye years 1675, 1676 & 1677, sixteen of them to Katherine Ross and some others to her sister Jean Collace.

National Library of Scotland, Advocates MSS (Adv. MS 32.4.4 ff. 27r-78v)
RoK 2 c.1697-1735

Copy of autobiographical writings and meditations by Katherine Ross, in a rounded italic hand, transcribed after her death, followed (on ff. 238r-84v) by similar autobiographical writings by her sister Jean Collace, including (f. 238r-v) meditations on Ross's death.

Described in the online Perdita Project.

A quarto composite volume of writings by Scottish covenanters, in two or possibly three rounded hands, ii + 284 leaves, in modern cloth.

Early 18th century
National Library of Scotland, Advocates MSS (Adv. MS 34.5.19 ff. 185r-238r)
RoK 3 c.1697-1734

Copy of autobiographical writings and meditations by Katherine Ross, transcribed after her death, followed by similar autobiographical writings by her sister Jean Collace, including meditations on Ross's death.

An octavo composite volume of twelve items, in various hands, 265 leaves.

Among the working papers and collections of Robert Wodrow (1679-1734), ecclesiastical historian.

National Library of Scotland, other MSS (MS Wod. Oct. XXXI f. 142r et seq.)

Contents