Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1625, 1926-1948 (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
MS II.42: v, 64 ff. (original pagination 1-126, f. v is a singleton) ; 185 x 140 mm.
MS II.42a: 9 ff.
Contemporary limp vellum binding, gold fillets on covers and spine and gold ornament stamped on both covers.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
'D 95 2' at top left corner of f. i verso, 'K Digby Margrit' in a seventeenth century hand, sc. Margaret, daughter of Sir Edward Longueville of Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, second wife of Sir Kenelm Digby's son John Digby of Goathurst. The manuscript passed by descent from her to Richard Williams of Penbedw, and so to his great-grandson, W. W. E. Wynne of Peniarth, who presented it to W. Ormsby Gore of Brogyntyn in 1837 (see notes by Wynne and Ormsby Gore on f. ii). Accepted by the Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax, December 1993, and allocated to NLW.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
A volume, dated 27 November 1625, containing the only known manuscript copy of John Fletcher's play Demetrius and Enanthe (see John Fletcher, Demetrius and Enanthe: A Pleasant Comedie, ed. by Margaret McLaren Cook and F. P. Wilson, Malone Society (Oxford, 1951)). It was first published in 1647, as 'The Humorous Lieutenant', in Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Comedies and Tragedies (London, 1647, Wing B1581) and later separately as The Humorous Lieutenant; or, Generous Enemies: A Comedy... (London, 1697, Wing F1344).
The manuscript contains a dedicatory letter, dated 27 November 1625, 'To the honorable Sir Kelham [sic] Digbie knight', beginning 'Worthie Sir: I know, that to a Man of your religious Inclination', and ending 'as upon one that shall still reioyce to be esteemed/Your Commaunded Beades=man/ Raph Crane' (f. v); and Demetrius and Enanthe: first line 'Round, round: perfume it round: look you dilligently...'; last line 'And hang a Coward now: and there's my Song' (pp. 1-126). This transcript, containing passages not included in the printed texts, was made by the poet and copyist Ralph Crane (c. 1550s-1632; see F. P. Wilson, 'Ralph Crane, scrivener to the King's Players', The Library, 7 (1927), 194-215), and presented by him to Sir Kenelm Digby. The title page (f. iv) attributes the play to John Fletcher alone. Ancilliary materials, comprising correspondence, 1926-1948, of F. P. Wilson relating to his research on the manuscript, are filed separately (Brogyntyn MS II.42a).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Item: 1.1 Manuscript Volume (Brogyntyn II.42). Action: Condition reviewed. Action identifier: 6032800. Date: 20030207. Authorization: Selected for conservation. Authorizing institution: NLW. Action agent: J. Thomas. Status: Manuscript Volume (Brogyntyn II.42) : Three sewing supports broken and endpaper broken along part of joint. Institution: WlAbNL.
Item: 1.2 Manuscript Volume (Brogyntyn II.42). Action: Conserved. Action identifier: 6032800. Date: 20040209. Authorizing institution: NLW. Action agent: D. Williams. Status: Manuscript Volume (Brogyntyn II.42) : Replaced broken thongs and resewn repaired and loose sections. Institution: WlAbNL.
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Available on microfilm at the Library (Brogyntyn MS II.42 & II.42a).
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Original title.
Note
Three watermarks: a crowned pot, surmounted by a crescent, with ?'PO' on the belly (ff. i-ii); two posts with grapes, similar, but not identical, to Churchill 529 and Edward Heawood, Watermarks (Hilversum, 1957) 3529 (ff. iii-v, 1); crowned pot, surmounted by a crescent, with 'GC' on the belly, similar to Heawood 3585 (pp. 1-127). See W. W. Greg & F. P. Wilson's Introduction to Thomas Middleton, The Witch, Malone Society (Oxford, 1949), p. viii, for discussion of paper stock used by Crane in MSS Malone 12 and 25 and Brogyntyn MS II.42.
Note
Preferred citation: Brogyntyn MS II.42 [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Wilson, F. P. (Frank Percy), 1889-1963 -- Correspondence. (Subject)
- Crane, Ralph. (Subject)
- Digby, Kenelm, 1603-1665, former owner. (Subject)
- Wilson, F. P. (Frank Percy), 1889-1963. (Subject)