Item 63 (Commonplace, Sententia), fol. 69r-v

Apothegms

1 He that knows not where to find the sea, let him take a river for his guide

...

and he that thinks he will not forgive him accuses him of falsehood, for he hath sworn by himself

[This is a list of 30 apothegms.]

Item 2 (Verse, Commonplace, Couplet, Extract), fols 1v-5r

Verse extracts from a variety of printed sources, many arranged into rhyming couplets

[

I have matched many of the couplets with printed sources. On folio 1v, two lines are from Timothy Kendall, "Flowers of Epigrams" (1577), sig. O8v. Eleven lines are from "The Mirror for Magistrates" (first printed in 1559): three from ""Robert Tresilian, Chief Justice of England"", lines 124-126; six from ""The Two Rogers, surnamed Mortimers"", lines 15-18, 92, and 94; and two from " "King James the First"", lines 111-112. Four lines are from the February eclogue in Spenser's " The Shepheardes Calender" (1579), lines 15-16 and 29-30.

On fol. 2r, one line is from the May eclogue of " The Shepheardes Calender", line 304. Four lines are from Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" (1596), I.iii.1.1-4. Two lines are from the Robert Tresilian story in "The Mirror for Magistrates", lines 83-84. Two lines are from Chaucer's " The Manciple's Tale", lines 160-162.

On fol. 2v, four lines are from Chaucer's " The Knight's Tale", lines 1251-1254.

On fol. 3r, four lines are from the May eclogue of " The Shepheardes Calender ", lines 71-72 and 152-153. Two lines are from John Heywood's "A Dialogue of Proverbs", lines 2717-2718.

On fol. 3v, four lines are from the May eclogue of "The Shepheardes Calender", lines 302-304, and the March eclogue, lines 121-122. Four lines are from "The Mirror for Magistrates", two from Robert Tresilian's story, lines 48-49, and two from ""Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester"", lines 202-203. Four lines are from Chaucer's "The Assemblie of Foules", lines 22-25.

On fol. 4r, 12 lines are from Michael Drayton's "Englands Heroicall Epistles": six from " "Henry Howard, Earle of Surrey, to the Lady Geraldine"", lines 89-92 and 87-88; two from ""The Epistle of Rosamond to King Henry the Second"", lines 73-74; and four from ""The Lady Jane Gray, to the Lord Gilford Dudley"", lines 67-68 and 115-116. Three lines are from Spenser's ""The Ruines of Time"", lines 159-161. Four lines are from Josuah Sylvester's translation of Du Bartas's "Divine Weeks and Works", specifically ""The Seaventh Day of the First Weeke"", lines 521-24.

On fol. 4v, all of the lines are from Chaucer: four lines are from "The Wife of Bath's Prologue", lines 655-658, and seven are from "The Man of Laws Tale", lines 162-168. Hand B has written a list of inks or colours but has scribbled it out in the bottom half of fol. 4v.

On fol. 5r, 28 lines are from Drayton's "Englands Heroicall Epistles": two from " "Queene Katherine to Owen Tudor"", lines 45-46; four from " "Queene Margaret to William De-La-Poole, Duke of Suffolke"", lines 153-154 and 53-54; two fron ""William De-La-Poole, Duke of Suffolke, to Queene Margaret"", lines 151-152; four from " "Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolke, to Mary the French Queene"", lines 179-83, two lines from " "Mary, the French Queene, to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolke"", lines 85-86, and 14 lines from ""The Lady Jane Gray, to the Lord Gilford Dudley"", lines 23-24, 31-34, 97-98, 95-96, 99-100, and 43-44. The only other item on that page is a poem (see msItem 3).

For a discussion of editions Bowyer may have used and some of her variants see Victoria Burke's article, listed below.

[On the top of fol. 4r Bowyer has written the word anagrams in Greek, above an anagram ("womenkind are man's woe/O man we women are kind")]

[In this section, Hand B has written only a crossed out list of colours on fol. 4v.]

Item 3 (Verse, Drama, Commonplace, Extract, Sententia), fols 176v-194v

Verse extracts from a variety of sources

1696

[This section is prefaced by the following epigraph written by Katherine Butler on an otherwise blank page (fol. 176v): ""The reason why I wrote severall of these following Verses, was not that I thought them all good, but the subjects was - what, I had occasion to make vse of"". With one exception (the second item on fol. 177r, on grief) all of the passages in this section are in verse. See Context and purpose article for a general discussion of the contents of these pages.]

[End of poetry section. Manuscript is reversed and the final page is now a new first page.]

Item 5 (Drama, Commonplace, Extract), fols 275v, rev.-257r, rev.

Prose extracts from a variety of sources

A Common Place Book 1696

[This section of the commonplace book contains prose excerpts from a variety of sources compiled by Butler. The sources of the shorter extracts include Giovanni Paolo Marana 's Letters writ by a Turkish Spy, Valerius Maximus, Cicero, Plutarch, and Thomas Sprat's The history of the Royal-Society. This section also includes the complete text of William Walsh's dialogue The Hospital of Fools; A Dialogue, first printed in 1714, but dated 1697 in the manuscript (fols 273v, rev.-263v, rev.). This is followed by another dialogue, one between Socrates and Alcibiades on prayer (fols 263r, rev.-259v, rev.). This is followed by an extract from a letter dated at Paris 5 March 1745 from Mr. Quin to Mr. Ellis about electricity (fols 259r, rev.-258v, rev.).]

[Fol. 257v-r is blank.]

Item 9 (Commonplace, Religious writing), p.[iii][rev]

Observations about Christian living

Good works and good instructions are the generative acts of the soul.

...

All heavenly hearts are charitable; enlightened souls cannot but disperse their rays.

Item 3 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.1-12

"A" section of commonplaces

A. 1.St Augustine said; that he should never believe the scriptures, but for the authority of the Church;

...

A. Age 1 Of all things the company of old men is most afflicting, for they have only the memory of things past in their time, but have lost the remembrance of their repetitions

[

Preceded by blank front flyleaf v.

Followed by blank pp.8-12.

Item 4 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.13-18

"B" section of commonplaces

B Bounty 1 It is said of Maximilian Emperor of Germany his bounty was observed such, that it extended even to the disabling him in the pursuit of his designs, wherein he made a royal virtue criminal,

...

Brethren twins. 7. He that is first son, is first to reap.

[Preceded by blank pp.8-12.]

Item 7 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.25-34

"C" section of commonplaces

C Character. 1. Of Cardinal Wolsey, he was no great dissembler for so qualified a person, as ordering his business (for the most part) so cautiously as he got more by keeping his word, then by breaking it,

...

The City With serious follies reverend trifles stored, griefs to be laughed at, joys to be deplored,

[Preceded by blank p.24.]

Item 10 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.45-48

"D" section of commonplaces

D Deceit. 1. There is no use of deceit among the wiser sort.

...

Devotion 14. The patience of God is very great? so it had need to hear him all that while,

Item 13 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.57-60

"E" section of commonplaces

E Elegies. 1. Improbable elegies are the greatest disservice to their own design, and do in effect diminish the person, whom they pretend to magnify,

...

Eloquence 3. He always dirties himself and thinks to make himself clean with his tongue.

[Preceded by blank p.56.]

Item 15 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.69-87

"F" section of commonplaces

F of my friend. 1. The necessary qualities of a friend are understanding fidelity, and judgment.

...

5. Friendship loves to be prescribed by the will of another rather than by its own,

[

Preceded by blank p.68.

Followed by blank pp.80-87.

Item 16 (Verse, Commonplace), p.88

"F" section of commonplaces, continued

F MC: Forsaken. 1. Leave thee! what dreadful word is that

...

Even when she flies away to wound

[

The "MC:" in the margin probably indicates that the item was given to her by Martin Clifford .

Preceded by blank pp.80-87.

Item 17 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.89-96

"G" section of commonplaces

G to God 1. God did create the light before the sun, the effect before the cause,

...

Greatness 17. 'Tis men's own faults if they be bad in courts, as 'tis some inward cause and not the sun that blacks the moor. for there are white people in the same degree.

[Followed by blank pp.91-96.]

Item 18 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.97-112

"H" section of commonplaces

H History 1. In the reign of Henry the eighth; the Yorkshire men made an insurrection, yet they would have it called only a pilgrimage of Grace, while for giving it reputation certain priest with crosses led the way, wherein I observe that in all times rebellion is used to countenance itself with religion.

...

Betters the mind, and doth control, the thoughts and soul.

[

Preceded by blank pp.91-96.

Followed by blank p.112.

Item 21 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.134-136

"H" section of commonplaces

H MC Heaven. 1. The angels left heaven for hell, but nothing has left hell for heaven.

...

Honour. 2 My eyes may deceive me, but not you, they have more reason, I never loved them half so well.

[

The "MC" probably indicates that the item was given to her by Martin Clifford.

Preceded by blank pp.128-133.

Item 22 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.137-141

"I/J" section of commonplaces

J Jealousy. 1 Jealousy restores the eyes that love takes away.

...

Infirmity. 3 His body's so lame, that he has had one foot in the grave these ten years, and yet is not able to put in 'tother.

Item 24 (Commonplace, Compilation), p.145

"K" section of commonplaces

K. of Kings. 1. Kings by reason of the excellency of their degree ought not only forbear to be evil, but also strive to be exemplar in virtue.

...

Kisses 14. I think there's no woman wooed the man since Eve's time,

[Preceded by blank p.144.]

Item 25 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.146-164

"L" section of commonplaces

Love MC 1. Take heed of torturing my heart, for thy image being in it, the substance will decay with that

...

16. Like the sea, she loves to kill, but hates dead corpse.

[The "MC" probably indicates that the item was given to her by Martin Clifford.]

Item 26 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.165-167

"M" section of commonplaces

M. Maxims 1 There can be no peace so void of religion as a Civil War.

...

Mach: 4. Counterpoise of reward and punishment, are the best weights to make the great clock of the Commonwealth to go right.

[Followed by blank p.167.]

Item 31 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.172-176

"M" section of commonplaces, continued

M Modesty MC: 1 What a proud modesty is that, to think ill of yourself against the opinion of all the rest of the world.

...

Mutability 5 We go not but we are carried as things that float now gliding gently, now again hurried violently according as the water is either stormy, or calm.

[The "MC" probably indicates that the item was given to her by Martin Clifford.]

Item 32 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.177-179

"N" section of commonplaces

N. Note. 1. This I have received from a credible and I would say from an infallible fountain, if it did not become my simplicity, in a point so much concerning the eternal dishonour of a great man, to leave always some possibility of misinformation.

...

Nature 4 Without the help of industry, and study, which oft destroy the body before they perfect the soul.

Item 35 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.185-206

"O" section of commonplaces

O Observe. 1. As since the discovery of the Indies coin hath been much more plentiful, so great matters have been done in these latter times by bribes;

...

but old age is the last, and extremest way of dying, indeed it is the limit beyond which we shall not pass, and which the law of nature hath prescribed unto us, as that which shall not be outgone by any but it is a rare privilege peculiar unto herself to make us continue unto it.

Item 39 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.225-228

"P" section of commonplaces

P Precept 1. If you would appease anger in your friends seek not (while they are in passion) to excuse;

...

4. Were no jealous brow, it makes men false to be suspected so

Item 41 (Commonplace), p.228

Isolated commonplace

The spirit of a man hath its limits and it is very rare to find in one and the same person a genius equally proper for all things

[This is the entire entry.]

Item 42 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.229-254

"P" section of commonplaces, continued

P Politics. 1. The cause of a kingdom (as Statists write) acknowledgeth neither kindred, duty, faith, friendship, or society.

...

Set some such bound to thyself at last which thou canst not transgress, even if thou should'st be so unhappy as to desire it.

Item 45 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.257-268

"P" section of commonplaces, continued.

Poetry. An Epigram of Epictetus. 1. Born indisposed of body and a slave,

...

To wish that thou had'st kind and happy been.

[

All the entries in this section are in verse.

Preceded by a blank p.256.

Item 46 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.269-270

"Q" section of commonplaces

Q Question 1 I would propound to your judgment a pretty moral doubt, which I have heard discussed and resolved affirmatively among some skilful humourist who knew the world well,

...

Quickness. 5 An angel in short hand could not have writ it

Item 47 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.271-280

"R" section of commonplaces

R Religion. 1. Those were happy times when men did not think themselves bound to study the intricacies, and sophisms of authors, in matters impertinent to salvation,

...

they are made bishops by the civil power so that those who oppose the authority they exercise oppose the civil magistrate

Item 49 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.294-297

"R" section of commonplaces, continued

R Religion 1. He has an unseasonable religion, he never says his prayers, but when dinner's upon the table

...

Railer 14. He has teeth in his tongue like a trout.

Item 52 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.311-330

"S" section of commonplaces

S Sentences. 1. It is unpossible to draw his picture well who hath several countenances.

...

The base is no part of his stature, but you ought to measure the man without his stilts:

[

Preceded by a blank p.310.

Followed by a blank p.330

Item 60 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.349-350

"S" section of commonplaces, continued

S Spleen. 1. The spleen seems to be the disease of people that are idle, or think themselves but ill entertained,

...

I cannot hope it will end in a solar period being such a Saturnine humour, yet I have found it of more contumacy, than malignity/

[Followed by blank p.350.]

Item 61 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.351-353

"T" section of commonplaces

T Truth. 1. Truth, and invention are the daughters of time,

...

Tyrant 14 If once his fortunes spring a plank, he's sunk;

[

Preceded by blank p.350.

Followed by blank pp.352-353.

Item 64 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.356-361

"Poets" section of commonplaces, continued

Poets 1 Not half my love was by their wits expressed

...

How much the dreams of meat feed hungry men?

[All the entries in this section are in verse.]

Item 65 (Commonplace), p.362

"T" section of commonplaces, continued

T 1 A Talent is 750 ounces of silver, which after five shillings the ounce is.18.7. pounds.

[This is the entire entry.]

Item 66 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.362-363

"Poets" section of commonplaces, continued

A Pindaric ode to Eu: Proud and ingrateful idol now 'tis plain

...

As the suns beams put out our fires below.

[All the entries in this section are in verse.]

Item 67 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.364-366

"U/V" section of commonplaces

V Voyage And like the wind flees from his native country never to return again / out travail the winds,

...

Vicious 15 God can't deny you, for you never asked any thing before nor never will again

Item 69 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.369-375

"W" section of commonplaces

W War 1 The accursed honour of fighting nobly to be slaves by victory

...

Women 5 I like a thing that's excellent though in an ill kind, as I like a good woman;

Item 70 (Commonplace, Compilation), p.376 - back flyleaf r

"Y" section of commonplaces

Youth 1 The blossoms of the blackest fruit, are white

...

3 Like a prophecy everybody endeavours to make him good. / yonder genneting /

[Followed by blank back flyleaf r.]

Item 2 (Commonplace, Compilation), fols [1r-36v]

Saith Seneca

I daily examine myself and consider both my actions and words, I let nothing slip nor hide any thing from myself, for why should I fear any of my errors?

...

Pain and pleasure are so linked together, that they closely succeed each other by turns.

The End of Seneca

[The final rubric is in a slightly larger hand and appears to have been inserted after the surrounding text was written. The next line begins without a separate heading.]

Item 3 (Commonplace, Compilation), fols [36v-37v]

Unattributed commonplaces

No man ought to desert the station wherein God hath placed him: but to persist in the duties thereof contemning all opposition

...

O how beautiful is a succession of good things.

Item 4 (Commonplace, Compilation), fols [37v-38v]

Unattributed commonplaces

Begin Here

All sufferings did not move his spirit in the least to any unchristian passion nor extort from him one angry, one revengeful, one unseemly word.

...

The crafty man has many parts to play so that it is almost impossible for him so to act all, as not to be discovered in some and then he will be suspected in all whereas the honest man always acts according to plain nature.

[The rubric is in the same hand as "The End of Seneca" and also appears to have been inserted after the surrounding text had already been written.]

Item 6 (Commonplace, Compilation), fols [39v-52r]

Unattributed commonplaces

As nothing is perfect without decency; so nothing can be decent without simplicity

...

Our appetites must be tamed and reduced, and then they will not put us into mutiny and discontent

August 14th

[This is the last item in the front of the book. The manuscript is turned upside down and written in from the back towards the front. This contents list now starts from the back and works to the middle.]

Item 3.3 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.1-96

Selections from Plutarch's Morals

Education Let those who desire to be fathers of such children as may live in reputation among men not match with women of ill fame.

...

Aristotle writes that the scents of perfumes ointments, flowers and fragrant smells serve no less for health than for delight and pleasure.

The End of Plutarch's Morals

Item 4 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.96-98

Commonplaces

To relations we must pay their proper duty of which we must remember this general rule, that it is impossible to get content by them unless we do our duty towards them.

...

As it asks some knowledge to demand a question not impertinent so it requires some sense to make a wish not absurd.

Item 5 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.98-200

Here follows some collections out of several authors, many of 'em excellent precepts and rules of life. If some of these saying are not exactly true, yet I note them to shew how well some things may be said for that which is not so

Apologies It was a magnanimous resolution of the Duke of Buckingham who would never admit any apology to be written for him nor make any himself, for he would say he never found any fruit in apologies but the multiplying of discourse.

...

In all moral actions God values the will for the deed and reckons the man a companion in the sin who though possibly he may never actually join in it does yet inwardly applaud and like it.

Item 26 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.373-378

Fortune

The proverb fools have the fortune implies no more than that the prosperity of fools is to be imputed to their fortune, that of wise men to their merit,

...

yet esteem it necessary to act under the specious guise of justice and in the good opinion of the multitude.

Item 28 (Commonplace, Compilation), pp.380-381

Those temptations which pursue you either overcome them or slight them

The quieter I keep my spirit the better all things succeed with me and my crosses and afflictions suddenly vanish.

...

concluding with St Augustine I may err but I will not be a heretic, the first being proper to a man, but the other a property of an obstinate and perverse will.

Item 37 (Commonplace, Compilation), p.[396]

Commonplaces

Reading doth administer divers remedies to the diseases of the mind.

...

not to be fixed or settled in the defects thereof, but still to be capable and susceptible of growth and reformation.

Item 8 (Commonplace, Compilation, Quotation), pp.348-356

Precepts out of Herbert's Poem

Stay at the third glass ---

...

Lord say Amen. And Thine be all the praise.

Item 8 (Commonplace), fol.[8]

Proverbial?

Demand not many questions in a strange Country

Item 10 (Commonplace), fol.[10]

Unidentified commonplace

God and Mammon cannot agree together

Item 11 (Commonplace), fol.[11]

Proverbial

So many men so many Minds

[Translation from the Latin 'tot hominess quot sententiae']

Item 13 (Commonplace), fol.[13]

Unidentified commonplace

God and his Commandments should be our chief meditation.

Item 31.1 (Commonplace), fols. 243v-244r

The estate of a true but a weak Christian

If you ask how I fare

...

if we can be patient, we shall once be constant

Item 31.2 (Commonplace), fols. 244v-245v

A discourse of the continual exercise of a Christian

To keep the heart in ure with God

...

my soul for your safety. Hall. Dec. 3 Epist 8

Item 31.3 (Commonplace), fols. 246r-v

A discourse of the hardness of Christianity

How hard a thing is it to be a Christian

...

I am privileged from misery, hell cannot

[The text here is incomplete, the final sentence breaking off in the middle.]

[fols. 247r-262v are blank.]