Manuscript description

[ The pages preceding fol.6r are blank.]

[Deborah Aldrich-Watson speculates that Sir Walter Aston may have presented this book to his daughter as a gift, with this poem already written in it as a tribute to her. It is possible that Constance Aston Fowler's father is the poem's author as well as its scribe.]

Verses presented with a beauteous picture to Celestinae

Except earth's saint this beauteous image she

...

may for you and you to her for me

[Fol.6v is blank.]

O Jesus, thou my glory art

...

have mercy now on me

Amen

Of the Blessed name, of Jesus

[This poem is a triple acrostic: the initial letters of each line spell out "Iesus", as do the letters preceding the long dash in the middle of the lines, as well as the final letters of each line. The poem is written twice, with the second version moved towards the left margin to avoid the spacing problems which have marred the first attempt.]

Just as the sun beams, -- In midst of day I

...

Sun of sweet justice -- sense to reason sways

On the passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus:

When that eternal word, with sacred love

...

within my soul, and make my heart his tomb

[LaBelle attributes this poem to Herrick based on conjectural evidence.]

[The hand is a messier version of Constance Aston Fowler's.]

Dote not on that which may but cause thy woe

...

Bear all unequals with an equal mind

[The poem is ascribed to Herrick in MS Folger 1669.2 fol.270v, according to Aldrich-Watson, p.16.]

Go hence away and at thy parting know

...

With faith knit fast and so farewell forever

[The scribe attributes the poem to "MWS", which LaBelle speculates is William Stafford .]

[Walter Aston is the scribe for lines 1-21 and Constance Aston Fowler for lines 22-104. Several stubs apparent between fol.13v and fol.14r, along with internal evidence such as a neater hand after line 22, suggest that the first version of this poem (written by Sir Walter Aston) proved unsatisfactory, was partially excised from the MS, and was then rewritten by Constance Aston Fowler (see Aldrich-Watson p.17).]

O Lord direct my heart direct my soul

...

Forget thy mercy, in suffering this happy day

The soul's meditation of heavenly things

Amount my soul from earth a while

...

And there my dwelling have

Amen

O God of thy great might

...

thanks be to God

Amen

The prodigal child's soul wrack

Disanchored from a blissful shore

...

And grace my ruin did repair

finis

Man to the wound in Christ's side

O pleasant port O place of rest

...

sweet Jesus say Amen

[The authorship of this poem is indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother Herbert Aston, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

The perfect lover

He cannot worthily be styl'd a lover

...

With her, and like her, never hath an end

[The authorship of this poem is indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother Herbert Aston, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

Whilst I here absent languish out my time

...

Tis then my torture, that I suffer none

[Constance Aston Fowler indicated the authorship of many of the poems in this manuscript with symbols. A symbol remains visible at the close of this poem, but the initials "WP" within the symbol have been crossed out.]

The first altar

Chaste flames of sacred virgins purely bright

...

The heavens paper: and contrite tears the ink

On Celestinae's going a journey in wet weather

Weep the heavens? and not we

...

Else we, the spring, and all must die:

On Castarae's sitting on primrose banks

See how the little stars in azure nights

...

A plant for princes out of paradise

[The scribe attributes the poem to "WP", which LaBelle deduces is Sir William Pershall .]

An elegy on the death of the Lady Frances Draicott

To die and to die young; and to die full

...

Except she had made earth heaven, she needs must die

Upon Castarie's and her sister's going afoot in the snow

The heavens knowing that the tedious way

...

Your eyes might melt the snow, and make wet ways

An eclogue between Melibeus and Amyntas

Melibeus: Tell me Amyntas why you look

...

Makes her soul and body one:

A discourse of a dream

Sleep the best ease of the most troubled mind

...

And not by contradiction know th' extremes

[This poem is attributed to "Mrs. KT" (Katherine Thimelby).]

Love's merit

Strange alterations in my soul

...

Then justly wish a quiet grave:

[Constance Aston Fowler indicated the authorship of many of the poems in this manuscript with symbols. A symbol remains visible at the close of this poem, but the initials "WP" within the symbol have been crossed out.]

[Dedicated to Sir Walter Aston .]

A congratulation for the happy return of TLAfrom Spain

My Lord When from th'Antipodes Apollo brings

...

If your acceptance prove their godfather

[Attributed to "B.J.".]

Ill busied man, why dost thou take such care

...

Are but thy tears, shed for thy funeral

To his Mrs on her outward beauty

Just (Seraphina) as a priest doth doubt

...

A legion of angels hovering flies,

[This poem seems to be incomplete. It lacks the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to indicate her brother's authorship elsewhere in the manuscript, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

A child my choice

Let folly praise, that fancy loves

...

Direct me when I die

Amen

Life's death, love's life

Who lives in love, loves best to live

...

then love begins his joys

finis

In meditation where I sat

...

Sith thou hast bought me so dear

thanks be to God

O blessed God O saviour sweet

...

Sweet Jesus grant us this

Amen

When Abraham was an old man

...

Instead of his dear son

thanks be to God Amen

A certain king married a son

...

And make no long delay

finis

My wretched soul with sin oppressed

...

In heaven to have a dwelling place

Good God Amen

O Christ that art the highest

...

And die to live again

finis

[The authorship of this poem is indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother Herbert Aston, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

Whilst here eclipsed from those happy beams

...

To lose my innocence and paradise

The complement

[The title actually reads "The complemement".]

Cupid did cry his mother chid him so

...

That he mistook and took her for his mother

[Fol.47v is blank.]

[The authorship of this poem is indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother Herbert Aston, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

I strive to love without reward in vain

...

Although I fall a daily sacrifice

Eyes gaze no more; as yet you may

...

That all that sorrow's for her sake

[Attributed to "Mr AT", possibly Aurelian Townshend]

On the death of the Duke of Buckingham

Death come thyself and let thy image sleep

...

By a sweet muse may silence slander's tongue

To weep were poor, thy most unhappy fate

...

In whom consisted all thy joys alone

[Fols 53r-135v are blank.]

[The scribe identifies the author as "The LDS".]

Of unconstancy

Why did you feign both sighs and tears to gain

...

When you speak truth all will believe you feign

If you would know the reason why

...

Then mend itself in such a glass

[The scribe attributes the poem to "BJ".]

An elegy on the Lady Jane Paulet, Marchioness of Winchester

What goodly ghost besprinkled with April dew

...

And sure of heaven rides triumphing in

[Fols 139v - 143 r are blank.]

[The scribe attributes the poem to "Mr TC", perhaps Thomas Cary .]

Tell me (Lucinda) since my fate

...

Not to know what to say

[This poem follows a question and answer format. Lines 1-7 are a question, 8-15 are the answer, 16-21 a question, 22-30 the answer, 31-38 a question, 39-46 the answer.]

[Attributed to "Mr GB"]

On the departure of two lovers in tears

Why should I hide my sorrow and why these fears

...

Only ingenious in simplicity

[The poem is attributed to "SWP", but then these initials are crossed out.]

On lovers' tears

Can tears meet with affection's flame

...

To reconcile the elements

[The poem is attributed to "Mr. HT".]

On black patches

I know your heart cannot so guilty be

...

your face would wear no patches, but a cloud

Mistress Goodmorrow, till you please to rise

...

Till with your looks, you make the heavens clear

A lover if beloved, is such a state

...

He'd change with hell, and think he gained much

DK on the death of his wife

Accept thou shrine of my dead saint

...

Till we shall meet and never part

finis

[The authorship of this poem is indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother Herbert Aston, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

To the Lady Mary Aston

Ever most honour'd sister tis to you

...

Believe my self, and then I cannot lie

[Attributed to "MWH".]

To the honourable GT

["GT"is probably Constance Aston Fowler's sister Gertrude Aston Thimelby .]

Let not thy groans force Echo from her cave

...

To this desirous port and make love thine

[Attributed to "MKT".]

The answer to these verses made by Mrs KT

Sir since you are professed to dwell

...

I must love there eternally

[The authorship of this poem is indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother Herbert Aston, the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

To my honored sister GT

["GT"is probably Constance Aston Fowler's (and Herbert Aston's) sister Gertrude Aston Thimelby .]

[The initial "A" appeared between the G and T but has been crossed out.]

Infuse into me all your choicest strains

...

For tis not I have written this tis you

[Attributed to "MKT".]

Upon the LD saying KT could be sad in her company

Madam you say I am sad I answer no

...

you will believe my joy in you complete

[Attributed to "The LDS".]

The LD's answer

Dear cousin pardon me if I mistook

...

To one more yours and will be ever so

[ Fols 159v - 182 r are blank.]

An elegy on his Mrs death

With bowed thoughts low as this hollow cell

...

I kiss, and shut the alabaster book

O love whose power and might could never be withstood

...

I'll kill myself with grief nay then the devil take me

[The scribe has made some errors; the explicit actually reads "I'll kill myself (for, crossed out) with grief nay then the(x, crossed out) devil take me".]

[Attributed to "MSC".]

A epitaph on Ben Johnson

The muses fairest light, in no dark time

...

with sorrow here, with wonder, on his book

[Attributed to "Mr RF".]

A dream

I saw two swans come proudly down the stream

...

Leave to be swans; grow salamanders too

[Although the poem is attributed to "Mr. HT", there is good evidence, cited in Aldrich-Watts p.142, that Herbert Aston is the author.]

A true love's knot that was given as a fancy for a new year's gift

Make me thy fancy and if I prove not

...

The heart strings only tie a true love's knot

[Attributed to "Mr RF".]

Celia hath for a brother's absence sworn

...

you must use art if you would grow less fair

[Attributed to "LWA".]

A translation

[The title of the poem actually reads "A stranslation".]

Sometimes by April arrogantly decked

...

And but exterior accidents the rest

[The poem is attributed to Herbert Aston, indicated by the symbol that Constance Aston Fowler uses to represent her brother the initials "HA" enclosed within a four-leaf clover.]

When by sad fate from hence I summon'd am

...

Till virtue re-exhale me that is you

[Attributed to "Mr. RF".]

[This is Richard Fanshawe's translation of Luis de Gongora's sonnet, according to Aldrich-Watson p.148.]

The nightingale

With such variety and dainty skill

...

That he might neither change, nor make his moan

[Attributed to "TR".]

The constant lovers a pastoral eclogue Laura Amintas, and chorus

[Below the title the initials "MWS" and "LDS" appear, referring to William Stafford and his wife Lady Dorothy Shirley .]

The half starv'd lamb warm'd in her mother's wool

...

Become the fickle lovers' heads

[ The poem is attributed to "SWP", but the initials have been crossed out.]

A pastoral eclogue on the death of Lawra: Amyntas: Dorus: Chorus:

Amyntas But tell me Dorus since no object here

...

Are ornaments but while he lives