Item 139 (Autobiography, Biography, Commentary, Dream), fols. 96v-97r

A description of Austen's suitor's dream, the night before he died.

He was one that much observed dreams.

...

says he, I had rather go to the King of Heaven, and I hope he is, who departed the next day.

Item 140 (Autobiography, Biography, Commentary, Dream), fols. 97r-98r

A biographical description of Austen's suitor, concluding with a description of her own dream forseeing his death. (Austen refers, for a full description of this dream, to Book K, page 213.)

His eminence in learning and in all the accomplishments of a gentleman for his prudence and parts might well make him arrive at high places

...

He found his death in that country [Essex]. And I was nigh meeting with mine there also, at that time he had lain about 5 days ill.

Item 8 (Biography, Meditation), pp.347-349

Mr Locke

It is said in the Life of the famous Mr John Locke. That some years before his death, he applied himself entirely to the study of the Holy Scripture and found so much pleasure therein that he was very much troubled he had applied his mind to that study no sooner.

...

and who by revealing His will, supposes we will employ the judgment and understanding He has given us, in acknowledging, admiring, and following it.

[The rubric is in the margin.]

Item 13.1 (Biography), p.[19][rev]

Brief biography of Moll Cutpurse

I remember about fifty year ago there was a creature called Moll Cutpurse, who they said was a hermaphrodite.

...

She was interred in Saint Bridget's Churchyard having a fair marble stone put upon her grave, with the following epitaph composed by the ingenious Mr Milton. But destroyed in the great conflagration of London.

[

The last part of Cowper's description resembles that in Alexander Smith's Complete History of . . . Highwaymen, first published in 1714 (see p.290 of the 1926 edition).

The attribution to Milton is doubtful.

Item 9 (Biography), pp.226-228

Out of the life of Bishop Bedell

Cardinal Baronius gave this advice to Pope Paul the fifth in the Consistory.

...

In reforming manners he was so severe that once a boy was condemned for a custom of pulling out the eyes of quails as thereby betraying a bad disposition.

Item 6 (Biography), pp.754-755

The life of Mahomet the Imposter

Mahomet the son of Abdalla a vicious pagan was born posthumous at Jesrab then a village of Arabia

...

Yea some madly put out their eyes to see no worldly thing after, and there spend the rest of their days.

Item 4 (Biography), fols. 6r-30v

biography of Thomas Godfrey

Item 4.5 (Biography), fol. 8r [p. 3]

1. My Father's age at the death of my Grandfather

He was left an Orphan

...

Call home thy prodigals by repentance and favourably embrace them in the arms of thy mercy.

Item 4.6 (Biography), fol. 8v [p. 4]

2. The Inheritance he had left him

The yearly value of my father's lands left unto him by my grandfather did amount unto four hundred pounds a year

...

they paid thirteen hundred pounds which his father left him in debt and made a purchase for him ere he attained to age of eighteen years

Item 4.7 (Biography), fols. 8v-9r [pp. 4-5]

3. How much and by what means he increased his estate

To his inheritance he added (at the least) twenty hundred pounds a year

...

Let us look back view our own error and punishment, by both be made wary.

Item 4.8 (Biography), fol. 9r-10r [pp. 5-7]

4. His Wives

He enjoyed three Wives

...

She was towards God zealously pious, and as her Life was Christian so her death was comfortable

Item 4.9 (Biography), fols. 10r-11r [pp. 7-9]

5. His Children

The number of his children which God had given him were ten

...

in the next place I will relate

Item 4.10 (Biography), fols. 11r-18v [pp. 9-24]

6. The manner of settling his estate

The certainty of earthly and temporal favours is uncertainty of enjoying them long

...

the whole tyme of his Life after the passing away of his estate was but nine months

Item 4.11 (Biography), fols. 18v-19r [pp. 24-25]

7. My Father's Age and Death

He was born at Lidd

...

his body shall be united to it, and be glorious, though it yet remain as unregarded as his Commands

Item 4.12 (Biography), fols. 19r-20r [pp. 25-27]

8. The Short Life of my Eldest brother after my father's Death

Now my father being dead, his eldest Son enjoys without impeachment all the estate he could expect

...

Lord open the eyes of these young men that they may see thy power in requiting of my father's wrong

Item 4.13 (Biography), fols. 20r-21v [pp. 27-30]

9. My Sister's First Widowhood

Mine eldest brother almost surprised by the messenger of death, sent for his wife

...

without any suspicion of those discourtesies which wee have since found

Item 4.14 (Biography), fols. 21v-22v [pp. 30-32]

10. Mine elder brother's Children and some Observations by way of parallels with their Grandfather

My brother left two sons and one daughter

...

I shall have occasion to speak in the next place

Item 4.15 (Biography), fols. 22v-26r [pp. 32-39]

11. My Sister's Second Marriage

Mine eldest brother's wife being married to Sir Thomas Hamon

...

As I have done so God hath requited me

Item 4.16 (Biography), fols. 26r-30v [pp. 39-48]

12. The Lady Haomon's Second Widowhood

After the death of Sir Thomas Hamon, his Lady continues her constant affection

...

who shall not say Amen to this

Item 2 (Biography), pp. 1-419

They who dote on mortal excellencies, when, by the inevitable fate of all things frail, their adored idols are taken from them

...

Let us bless the Lord for him and for the signal and eminent mercy showed unto him, which made him in life and death victorious over the Lord's and his enemies.

[Biography of John Hutchinson]

Item 28.10 (Prose, Biography), fols. 179v-193r

Son 9 ... Of Mr John Squire Vicar of S Leonard Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex

I have seen in these times the lives of men set forth

...

the last of these in death, and therefore reserved to this place

Item 3 (Biography), fols.80r-113r

The Life of Mr Christopher Love

He was the Son of Mr. Christopher Love of Cardiff a Town in Wales

...

like the Enemies of Jeremiah they said one to another Do you report and we will report speaking all

[catchword: "manner"]

[Followed by a blank page, fol. 113v.]

[It appears that this copy of the biography was never completed. The text ends at the bottom of fol. 113r in the middle of a sentence, and the verso of the leaf has been numbered but left blank.]

Item 5 (Biography), pp. 1-141

The Life of Mr. Christopher Love

He was the Son of Mr. Christopher Love of Cardiff a Town in Wales

...

God will divide thou them in Jacob and scatter thou them in Israel.

Finis

Item 2 (Biography, Notes), pp. 1-2

[

A much later, fourth hand, provides biographical notes on Philips, 'Orinda' as she is termed here. These notes are largely extracted from: William Thompson, , Poems on Several Occasions, to which is added Gondibert and Birtha, a tragedy, Oxford, 1757, 2 volumes.The reader is referred to a folio edition of Philips; to two odes on Philips by Abraham Cowley; to her translation of Corneille's Pompey, , including the earl of Roscommon's Prologue; and to Jeremy Taylor's discourse on friendship. Her dates of birth and death are provided. At the point where the scribe quotes Langbaine, this account of Philips breaks off mid-sentence, suggesting that the remainder must have been torn out. A stub between pp. 1/2 and 3/4 is visible.