National Library of Scotland, MS 6504

  • MS 6504

    A quarto verse miscellany, in several hands, written from both ends, including (ff. 3r-49v) 49 poems by Donne in a single neat secretary hand, also responsible for poems by others on ff. 83r, 88r-90r, 4r-11v rev., later notes and two poems by Donne in other hands on the remaining leaves, 124 leaves, in contemporary vellum.

    c.1620[-76].

    The later material including medical notes written c.1665-76 by Sir John Wedderburn (1599-1679), royal physician.

    Cited in IELM, I.i (1980), as the Wedderburn MS: DnJ Δ 55. Discussed in Alan MacColl, A New Manuscript of Donne's Poems, RES, NS 19 (1968), 293-5.

    • DnJ 2846 ff. 3r-8r

      Copy, headed in the margin Sat: 4, subscribed J: D:.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 158-68. Milgate, Satires, pp. 14-22. Shawcross, No. 4.

      John Donne, Satyre IV ('Well. I may now receive, and die. My sinne')
    • DnJ 2784 ff. 9r-11r

      Copy, headed in the margin Sat: 5, subscribed J: D:.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 149-54. Milgate, Satires, pp. 7-10. Shawcross, No. 2.

      John Donne, Satyre II ('Sir. though (I thank God for it) I do hate')
    • DnJ 3083 ff. 12r-13r

      Copy, subscribed J D:.

      First published (in full) in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 175-7. Milgate, Satires, pp. 55-7. Shawcross, No. 109.

      John Donne, The Storme ('Thou which art I, ('tis nothing to be soe)')
    • DnJ 567 ff. 13v-14v

      Copy, subscribed J: D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 178-80. Milgate, Satires, pp. 57-9. Shawcross, No. 110.

      John Donne, The Calme ('Our storme is past, and that storms tyrannous rage')
    • DnJ 3503 ff. 15r-16r

      Copy, headed To Mr. H: W:.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 180-2. Milgate, Satires, pp. 71-3. Shawcross, No. 112.

      John Donne, To Sr Henry Wotton ('Sir, more then kisses, letters mingle Soules')
    • DnJ 3298 ff. 16v-17r

      Copy, headed To Mr. R: W:, subscribed J: D:.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 185-6. Milgate, Satires, pp. 69-70. Shawcross, No. 113.

      John Donne, To Mr Rowland Woodward ('Like one who'in her third widdowhood doth professe')
    • DnJ 3472 ff. 17v-18r

      Copy, headed To Mr. H: W: 20 Jul: 1598 at Courte, subscribed J: D:.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 187-8. Milgate, Satires, pp. 73-4. Shawcross, No. 111.

      John Donne, To Sr Henry Wootton ('Here's no more newes then vertue, I may as well')
    • DnJ 67 ff. 18v-19v

      Copy, subscribed J: D:.

      First published as Elegie II in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 80-2 (as Elegie II). Gardner, Elegies, pp. 21-2. Shawcross, No. 17. Variorum, 2 (2000), pp. 217-18.

      John Donne, The Anagram ('Marry, and love thy Flavia, for, shee')
    • DnJ 1047 f. 20r

      Copy, headed Elegye, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Elegie VI, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 287. Gardner, Elegies, p. 26 (as A Funeral Elegy). Variorum, 6 (1995), p. 103, as Elegia.

      John Donne, Elegie on the L.C. ('Sorrow, who to this house scarce knew the way')
    • DnJ 970 f. 20v

      Copy, headed Elegye, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Elegie, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 95 (as Elegie X). Gardner, Elegies, p. 58. Shawcross, No. 35.

      John Donne, The Dreame ('Image of her whom I love')
    • DnJ 1849 f. 21r

      Copy, headed Elegye, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 20. Gardner, Elegies, p. 50. Shawcross, No. 43.

      John Donne, The Legacie ('When I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye')
    • DnJ 511 f. 21v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      Lines 1-16 first published in A Helpe to Memory and Discourse (London, 1630), pp. 45-6. Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 48-9. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 51-2. Shawcross, No. 29.

      John Donne, The broken heart ('He is starke mad, who ever sayes')
    • DnJ 2465 f. 22r-v

      Copy, headed Elegy, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Elegie VII, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 87-9 (as Elegie VI). Gardner, Elegies, pp. 10-11. Shawcross, No. 12. Variorum, 2 (2000), pp. 110-11.

      John Donne, 'Oh, let mee not serve so, as those men serve'
    • DnJ 273 f. 23r-v

      Copy, headed Elegie, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Elegie. The Autumnall, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 92-4 (as Elegie IX). Gardner, Elegies, pp. 27-8. Shawcross, No. 50. Variorum, 2 (2000), pp. 277-8.

      John Donne, The Autumnall ('No Spring, nor Summer Beauty hath such grace')
    • DnJ 3635 f. 24r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J. D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 16. Gardner, Elegies, p. 52. Shawcross, No. 40.

      John Donne, The triple Foole ('I am two fooles, I know')
    • DnJ 3673 f. 24v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 28-9. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 83-4. Shawcross, No. 51.

      John Donne, Twicknam garden ('Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with teares')
    • DnJ 3745 f. 25r-v

      Copy, headed Valediction, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 49-51. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 62-4. Shawcross, No. 31.

      John Donne, A Valediction: forbidding mourning ('As virtuous men passe mildly away')
    • DnJ 1980 f. 26r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J: D:.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 39-40. Gardner, Elegies, p. 81. Shawcross, No. 59.

      John Donne, Loves Alchymie ('Some that have deeper digg'd loves Myne then I')
    • DnJ 1080 ff. 26v-7v

      Copy, headed Elegy Funerall vppon the Death of the Lady Markham, subscribed J D.

      This MS recorded in Milgate.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 279-81. Shawcross, No. 149. Milgate, Epithalamions, pp. 55-9. Variorum, 6 (1995), pp. 112-13.

      John Donne, Elegie on the Lady Marckham ('Man is the World, and death th' Ocean')
    • DnJ 1023 ff. 28r-9r

      Copy, headed Elegy Funerall vpo the Death of Mris Boulstrood, subscribed J D.

      This MS recorded in Milgate.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 282-4. Shawcross, No. 150. Milgate, Epithalamions, p. 59-61. Variorum, 6 (1995), pp. 129-30.

      John Donne, Elegie on Mris Boulstred ('Death I recant, and say, unsaid by mee')
    • DnJ 803 ff. 29v-30r

      Copy, headed Of the Crosse, subscribed J D.

      This MS recorded in Gardner.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 331-3. Gardner, Divine Poems, pp. 26-8. Shawcross, No. 181.

      John Donne, The Crosse ('Since Christ embrac'd the Crosse it selfe, dare I')
    • DnJ 1815 ff. 30v-1r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Song, in Poems (1635). Grierson, I, 71-2. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 78-9. Shawcross, No. 30.

      John Donne, A Lecture upon the Shadow ('Stand still, and I will read to thee')
    • DnJ 3674 f. 31r

      Copy of lines 1-8, untitled, deleted.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 28-9. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 83-4. Shawcross, No. 51.

      John Donne, Twicknam garden ('Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with teares')
    • DnJ 603 ff. 31r-2r

      Copy, headed Canonization, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 14-15. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 73-5. Shawcross, No. 39.

      John Donne, The Canonization ('For Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love')
    • DnJ 2252 f. 32r-v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J. D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 17-18. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 77-8. Shawcross, No. 41.

      John Donne, Lovers infinitenesse ('If yet I have not all thy love')
    • DnJ 29 ff. 32v-3r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 22. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 75-6. Shawcross, No. 45.

      John Donne, Aire and Angels ('Twice or thrice had I loved thee')
    • DnJ 3117 f. 33r-v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 11-12. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 72-3. Shawcross, No. 36.

      John Donne, The Sunne Rising ('Busie old foole, unruly Sunne')
    • DnJ 2119 f. 34r

      Copy, headed Springe, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 33-4. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 76-7. Shawcross, No. 54.

      John Donne, Loves growth ('I scarce beleeve my love to be so pure')
    • DnJ 3822 ff. 34v-5v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 29-32. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 67-9. Shawcross, No. 52.

      John Donne, A Valediction: of the booke ('I'll tell thee now (deare Love) what thou shalt doe')
    • DnJ 1464 ff. 35v-6r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 7-8. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 70-1. Shawcross, No. 32.

      John Donne, The good-morrow ('I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I')
    • DnJ 3792 ff. 36r-7r

      Copy, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 25-8. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 64-6. Shawcross, No. 49.

      John Donne, A Valediction: of my name, in the window ('My name engrav'd herein')
    • DnJ 3965 f. 37v

      Copy, headed Songe, subscribed J. D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 45-6. Gardner, Elegies, p. 37. Shawcross, No. 26.

      John Donne, Witchcraft by a picture ('I fixe mine eye on thine, and there')
    • DnJ 1333 ff. 37v-8r

      Copy, headed Feuver, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 21. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 61-2. Shawcross, No. 44.

      John Donne, A Feaver ('Oh doe not die, for I shall hate')
    • DnJ 2181 f. 38v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 13-14. Gardner, Elegies, p. 44. Shawcross, No. 38.

      John Donne, Loves Usury ('For every houre that thou wilt spare mee now')
    • DnJ 2570 ff. 39r-40r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Elegie IV, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 84-6 (as Elegie IV). Gardner, Elegies, pp. 7-9. Shawcross, No. 10. Variorum, 2 (2000), pp. 72-3.

      John Donne, The Perfume ('Once, and but once found in thy company')
    • DnJ 394 ff. 40v-2v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published, as Eleg. XII. The Bracelet, in Poems (1635). Grierson, I, 96-100 (as Elegie XI). Gardner, Elegies, pp. 1-4. Shawcross, No. 8. Variorum, 2 (2000), pp. 5-7.

      John Donne, The Bracelet ('Not that in colour it was like thy haire')
    • DnJ 2930 f. 43r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 8-9. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 29-30. Shawcross, No. 33.

      John Donne, Song ('Goe, and catche a falling starre')
    • DnJ 3017 f. 43v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 18-19. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 31-2. Shawcross, No. 42.

      John Donne, Song ('Sweetest love, I do not goe')
    • DnJ 3921 f. 44r-v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 56-8. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 54-5. Shawcross, No. 66.

      John Donne, The Will ('Before I sigh my last gaspe, let me breath')
    • DnJ 841 f. 45r-v

      Copy, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 41-2. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 40-1. Shawcross, No. 61.

      John Donne, The Curse ('Who ever guesses, thinks, or dreames he knowes')
    • DnJ 1655 ff. 45v-6r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 12-13. Gardner, Divine Poems, pp. 41-2. Shawcross, No. 37.

      John Donne, The Indifferent ('I can love both faire and browne')
    • DnJ 448 f. 46r-v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D

      First published in William Corkine, Second Book of Ayres (London, 1612), sig. B1v. Grierson, I, 23. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 35-6. Shawcross, No. 46.

      John Donne, Breake of day (''Tis true, 'tis day. what though it be?')
    • DnJ 2019 ff. 46v-7r

      Copy, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 54. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 47-8. Shawcross, No. 64.

      John Donne, Loves Deitie ('I long to talke with some old lovers ghost')
    • DnJ 1373 f. 47r

      Copy, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 40-1. Gardner, Elegies, p. 53. Shawcross, No. 60.

      John Donne, The Flea ('Marke but this flea, and marke in this')
    • DnJ 677 f. 47v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 32-3. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 33-4. Shawcross, No. 53.

      John Donne, Communitie ('Good wee must love, and must hate ill')
    • DnJ 3993 f. 48r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J D.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 9. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 42-3. Shawcross, No. 34.

      John Donne, Womans constancy ('Now thou hast lov'd me one whole day')
    • DnJ 1304 f. 48r

      Copy, subscribed J D.

      First published, and attributed to Donne, in John T. Shawcross, John Donne and Drummond's Manuscripts, AN&Q (March 1967), 104-5. Reprinted in Shawcross (1968), No. 102. Variorum, 8 (1995), p. 12.

      John Donne, 'Faustus keepes his sister and a whore'
    • DnJ 1747 f. 48r

      Copy, untitled and here beginning I can not stand, nor sitt, the Begger cryes, subscribed J D.

      First published in Thomas Deloney, Strange Histories (London, 1607), sig. E6. Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 76. Milgate, Satires, p. 51. Shawcross, No. 88. Variorum, 8 (1995), pp. 7 (as Zoppo) and 10.

      John Donne, A lame begger ('I am unable, yonder begger cries')
    • DnJ 1238 ff. 48v-9v

      Copy, headed Elegye.

      First published, as Elegie, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 108-10 (as Elegie XV). Gardner, Elegies, pp. 94-6 (among her Dubia). Shawcross, No. 22. Variorum, 2 (2000), pp. 369-70.

      John Donne, The Expostulation ('To make the doubt cleare, that no woman's true')
    • ClE 68 ff. 53v-4r

      Copy, in a mixed hand, untitled.

      Edward Hyde, First Earl of Clarendon, Articles of High Treason and other hainous misdemeanours agst Edward, Earle of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor, exhibited by Earl of Bristol, 10 July 1663
    • ClE 83 ff. 55r-7v

      Copy.

      Petition beginning I cannot express the insupportable trouble and grief of mind I sustain.... Published as To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled: The Humble Petition and Address of Clarendon, [in London, 1667?], and subsequently reprinted widely, sometimes under the title News from Dunkirk-house: or, Clarendon's Farewell to England Dec 3 1667.

      Edward Hyde, First Earl of Clarendon, The Humble Petition and Address of Clarendon in 1667
    • WoH 152 f. 85r

      Copy, untitled.

      First published in Francis Davison, Poetical Rapsody (London, 1602), p. 157. As A poem written by Sir Henry Wotton, in his youth, in Reliquiae Wottonianae (London, 1651), p. 517. Hannah (1845), pp. 3-5. Edited and texts discussed in Ted-Larry Pebworth, Sir Henry Wotton's O Faithless World: The Transmission of a Coterie Poem and a Critical Old-Spelling Edition, Analytical & Enumerative Bibliography, 5/4 (1981), 205-31.

      Sir Henry Wotton, A Poem written by Sir Henry Wotton in his Youth ('O faithless world, and thy most faithless part')
    • WoH 248 f. 85r

      Copy, untitled, subscribed H W.

      First published, as a farewell to the vanities of the world, and some say written by Dr. D[onne], but let them bee writ by whom they will, in Izaak Walton, The Complete Angler (London, 1653), pp. 243-5. Hannah (1845), pp. 109-13. The Poems of John Donne, ed. Herbert J.C. Grierson, 2 vols (Oxford, 1912), I, 465-7.

      Sir Henry Wotton, A Farewell to the Vanities of the World ('Farewell, ye gilded follies, pleasing troubles!')
    • WoH 41 f. 85v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed H W:.

      First published in Sir Thomas Overbury, A Wife, 5th impression (London, 1614). Reliquiae Wottonianae (London, 1651), pp. 522-3. Hannah (1845), pp. 28-31. Some texts of this poem discussed in C.F. Main, Wotton's The Character of a Happy Life, The Library, 5th Ser. 10 (1955), 270-4, and in Ted-Larry Pebworth, New Light on Sir Henry Wotton's The Character of a Happy Life, The Library, 5th Ser. 33 (1978), 223-6 (plus plates).

      Sir Henry Wotton, The Character of a Happy Life ('How happy is he born and taught')
    • CwT 787 f. 86r

      Copy, here beginning In yor fayr Cheekes two Pittes theare lye and subscribed B.R..

      First published in Poems (1640). Dunlap, p. 105.

      Thomas Carew, A Song ('In her faire cheekes two pits doe lye')
    • HoJ 35 f. 86v

      Copy, untitled, here beginning Absence heare thou my protestation, subscribed J. H.

      First published in Francis Davison, A Poetical Rapsody (London, 1602). The Poems of John Donne, ed. Herbert J.C. Grierson, 2 vols (Oxford, 1912), pp. 428-9. Osborn, No. XXIV (pp. 192-3).

      John Hoskyns, Absence ('Absence heare my protestation')
    • HoJ 177 f. 87r-v

      Copy, untitled, subscribed J: H.

      Osborn, No. XXII (p. 190).

      John Hoskyns, 'Loue is a foolish melancholie'
    • DnJ 941 f. 90r

      Copy of the first stanza, in a rugged secretary hand, headed On his Dream to his Mistres awaking him.

      First published in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 37-8. Gardner, Elegies, pp. 79-80. Shawcross, No. 57.

      John Donne, The Dreame ('Deare love, for nothing lesse then thee')
    • PeW 114 f. 90v

      Copy, in a rugged secretary hand, untitled, headed B Redier.

      Poems (1660), pp. 4-5, superscribed R. Krueger, p. 3, among Poems by Pembroke and Rudyerd.

      William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, ''Tis Love breeds Love in me, and cold Disdain'
    • PeW 46 f. 91r

      Copy, in a rugged secretary hand, untitled, subscribed E of pembrok.

      First published in 1635. Poems (1660), pp. 3-5, superscribed P.. Krueger, p. 2, among Poems by Pembroke and Rudyerd.

      William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, 'If her disdain least change in you can move'
    • DnJ 1111 ff. 91v-2v

      Copy, in a secretary hand, headed Elegie.

      First published, as Elegie, in Poems (1633). Grierson, I, 284-6 (as Elegie. Death). Shawcross, No. 151 (as Elegie: Death). Milgate, Epithalmions, pp. 61-3. Variorum, 6 (1995), pp. 146-7.

      John Donne, Elegie upon the Death of Mistress Boulstred ('Language thou art too narrow, and too weake')
    • OvT 23 ff. 4r-11r rev.

      Copy, in the neat secretary hand, subscribed Sr T: O:.

      First published, as A Wife now the Widdow of Sir T. Ouerbury, in London, 1614. Rimbault, pp. 33-45. Beecher, pp. 190-8.

      Sir Thomas Overbury, A Wife ('Each woman is a brief of woman kind')

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