Untraced Bright MSS

[Digby MSS]

An unbound collection of MS poems.

Described by Bright in 1877 as A small packet of old discoloured papers.

Early 17th century.

Once owned by Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-65), natural philosopher and courtier. Later owned by Benjamin Heywood Bright (1787-1843), book collector. Bright's library was sold in five parts at Sotheby's, 3 and 18 June 1844, 3 March, 12 April and 7 July 1845.

The MS poems printed, with commentary by G.F. Warner, in Poems from Sir Kenelm Digby's Papers, in the possession of Henry A. Bright (Roxburghe Club, London, 1877).

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*ToA 9: Aurelian Townshend, An Elegie Made by Mr Aurelian Townshend in remembrance of the Ladie Venetia Digby ('What Travellers of matchlesse Venice say')

The MS evidently sent to Digby by Townshend, described by Warner as probably in the original autograph of Townsend, signed A. Tounshend and endorsed For the Rightly Honorable Knight Sr Kenelme Digby.

Edited from this MS in Bright (1877), pp. 17-19, whence collated in Brown.

First published in Poems from Sir Kenelm Digby's Papers, in the possession of Henry A. Bright (Roxburghe Club, London, 1877), pp. 17-19. Chambers, pp. 38-40. Brown, pp. 52-3.

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JnB 193: Ben Jonson, Eupheme. or, The Faire Fame Left to Posteritie Of that truly noble Lady, the Lady Venetia Digby. 3. The Picture of the Body ('Sitting, and ready to be drawne')

Copy.

Edited from this MS in Bright, pp. 21-2, whence collated in Herford & Simpson

First published (Nos. 3 and 4) in John Benson's 4to edition of Jonson's poems (1640) and (all poems) in The Vnder-wood (lxxxiv) in Workes (London, 1640). Herford & Simpson, VIII, 272-89 (pp. 275-7).

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JnB 226: Ben Jonson, Eupheme. or, The Faire Fame Left to Posteritie Of that truly noble Lady, the Lady Venetia Digby. 4. The Mind ('Painter, yo'are come, but may be gone')

Copy.

Edited from this MS in Bright (1877), pp. 23-5, whence collated in Herford & Simpson.

Herford & Simpson, VIII, 277-81.

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RnT 111: Thomas Randolph, An Elegie upon the Lady Venetia Digby ('Death, who'ld not change prerogatives with thee')

Copy, subscribed Thos. Randolfe.

Edited from this MS in Bright (1877), pp. 26-7, whence collated in Thorn-Drury.

First published in Poems (1638). Thorn-Drury, pp. 52-3.

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BmF 83: Francis Beaumont, An Elegy on the Lady Markham ('As unthrifts groan in straw for their pawn'd beds')

Copy of lines 49-68, here beginning You wormes (my riualls) whiles she was aliue.

Edited from this MS in Bright (1877), pp. 29-30.

First published in Poems (London, 1640). Dyce, XI, 503-5.

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JnB 307: Ben Jonson, The Houre-glasse ('Doe but consider this small dust')

Copy.

Edited from this MS in Bright, p. 31, whence collated in Herford & Simpson.

First published in John Benson's 4to edition of Jonson's poems (1640) and in The Vnder-wood (viii) in Workes (London, 1640). Herford & Simpson, VIII, 148-9.

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RaW 481: Sir Walter Ralegh, Shall I, like an hermit, dwell

Copy, allegedly in the hand of Sir Henry Goodyer (1571-1627).

Edited from this MS in Bright (1877), pp. 32-3, where (pp. 34-6) the hand is identified as Goodyer's by Sir George Warner.

First published in The London Magazine (1734), p. 444. Listed but not printed in Latham, p. 173.