Item 12 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 16r

On the life and death of man

The life of man is but th'imperfect story

...

A glorious even foretells a glorious day

[Francis Quarles, Divine Fancies, London, 1632 , p. 103]

Item 13 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 16v

Verses in honour of the holy ghost

Of the incomparable treasure of the holy scriptures with a prayer

Here is the spring where waters flow

...

When god by death thee calls

[ ]

[See variant version in Bodleian MS Rawl D 273, p. 136 ( Crum H719). ]

Item 14 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 17r

The Song of St. Ambrose

Our tongues o god thy praise record

...

then let me ne'r confounded be

Item 16 (Verse, Lyric), fol. 18r

An Anthem of Saul and the witch of Endor

The Witch of Endor

In guilty night clad in false disguise

...

thou and thy son shalt be with me beneath

[

See variant versions in Bodleian MSS Don. c. 57, fol. 8v (with music by Robert Ramsey), and Rawl. C 580, fol. 21v (Crum I1343 ).

Item 17 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 18v

Verses upon the Lords day

Oh, our dear father in 6 days wrought his will

...

the 7th is mine and I will have it known

Item 18 (Verse, Panegyric, Lyric, Religious writing), fols. 18v-19r

Upon the translation of Upwood feast by Mr Henry Cromwell the 3d Son to Sir Henry Cromwell

The Sabbath is a day reserved for prayer

...

for which (live many year) thou shalt live belov'd

[

This poem is written in celebration of the compiler's husband, and his translation of the maypole festival from Sunday.

Item 19 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 19r

On God and the King

Our God and prince (whom god forever bless)

...

at both we grumble; and at both, repine

Item 20 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 19v

Upon the feast of Christmas and good Friday's fast

When Christmas was come

...

that treacherously accused him

Item 21 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 19v

On Rome's sacrifices

It cannot be excused: it is a wrong

...

heav'n ne'r accepted since this world begun

[Francis Quarles, Divine Fancies, London, 1632 , p. 104]

Item 22 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 20r

On Fox

There was a time (woe-worth that heavy time)

...

thou gav'st them life, that now give life to thee

[Francis Quarles, Divine Fancies, London, 1632 , p. 103]

Item 23 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fol. 20r

To Mundano

Wouldst thou Mundano, prove too great, too strong

...

heaven's aid, is far above the frowns of fortune

[Francis Quarles, Divine Fancies, London, 1632 , p. 104]

[

See variant version in Bodleian MS Rawl. poet. 90, fol. 70v ( Crum W2831).

Item 25 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fols. 21r-21v

Verses made by Mris Battina Cromwell, wife to Henry Cromwell Esqr Sir Oliver Cromwell's son

Eternal power from whose all-seeing eye

...

O bless my ambition that aspireth so

[

Battina Cromwell, daughter of Sir Horatio Palavicino and Anna Hooftman , married her step-brother by her mother's second marriage. She was the mother-in-law of Anna Williams, alias Cromwell. This poem is reprinted in Stephenson and Davidson, pp. 179-180.

Item 28 (Verse, Lyric), fol. 22v

A Song upon the frailty of man by Dr Dunne

Like to the Damask rose you see

...

the stream glideth, man's life is Dunne

[

This extremely popular poem is misattributed here to John Donne. It is printed in Francis Quarles, Argalus and Parthenia, London, 1629 ; Simon Wastell, Microbiblion, London, 1629 ; and in Crums of Comfort, London, 1629. See variant versions in Bodleian MSS Malone 19, p. 11; Rawl. D 859, fol. 158r; Rawl. poet. 117, fol 162 rev.; Top. gen. e. 32, fol. 74r (Crum L409-11); and in Yale University, Osborn Collection, MS b. 4, fols. 5r-6v. For versions which begin "Like as the damask rose you see", see Bodleian MSS Eng. poet. b. 5, p. 30; Malone 16, p. 54; and Rawl. D 947, fol. 3r (Crum L383).

Item 29 (Verse, Lyric), fols. 23r-24v

A Song of death

what serpent is this that about me doth hiss

...

come ye blessed and live with me

Item 30 (Verse, Lyric), fols. 24v-25r

A Song of the worlds vanity

An Ode Against Man's Life

The world's a bubble and the life of man

...

not to be born, or being born, to die

[

This poem is unattributed in the manuscript. Bacon's poem is published in the following print editions: Thomas Farnaby, Florilegium Epigrammatum, London, 1629; H. Stubbe and H. Birkhead, Otium Literatum. For variant manuscript versions, see Bodleian MSS Add. B. 106, fols. 13v, 14v; Ashmole 38, p. 2; Aubrey 6, fol. 71v; CCC 318, fol. 40v; Don. d. 58, fol. 8v; Eng. poet. c. 50, fol. 60v; Eng. poet. f. 10, fols. 117r, 116v; Rawl. poet. 90, fol. 55; Rawl. poet. 117, fol. 173, rev.; Rawl. poet. 142, fol. 20v; Rawl. poet. 160, fol. 33; Rawl. poet. 173, fol. 162; Rawl. poet. 209, fol. 23 (Crum T1591).

Item 36.1 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), f. 41v

Poem on spiritual illness

My soul she had a fever a long while

...

Thy blood sweet Jesu cur'd me, or else none

[

This poem is part of item 36.

Item 36.3 (Verse, Lyric, Religious writing), fols. 42v-43r

A Divine fancy on Confession

Experience tells, that Agues are about

...

Confesses rather, what he means to do

[

This poem is part of item 36.