THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH'S POCKET-BOOKS.
In "NOTES AND QUERIES" (Vol. i., p. 198.) is inserted from Chambers' Edinburgh Journal an account of a manuscript volume said to have been found on the person of the Duke of Monmouth at the time of his arrest; which was exhibited by Dr. Anster at a meeting of the Royal Irish Academy, November 30, 1849, accompanied by some remarks, which appeared in the Proceedings of the Academy, vol. iv. p. 411., and which furnish the substance of the article in Chambers above mentioned. In a subsequent number of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" (Vol. i., p. 397.), the authenticity of the volume is somewhat called in question by MR. C. ROSS, on account of certain historical entries not appearing in it, which are printed by Welwood in his Memoirs[1], and stated to have been copied by him from "a little pocket-book" which was taken with Monmouth, and afterwards delivered to the King. Dr. Anster replied to this in the Dublin University Magazine for June, 1850 (vol. xxxv. p. 673.), and showed by references to the Harleian Miscellany (vol. vi. p. 322., ed. 1810), and Sir John Reresby's Memoirs (p. 121. 4to., 1734), that more than one book was found on the Duke of Monmouth's person when captured. In the former of these authorities, entitled An Account of the Manner of taking the late Duke of Monmouth: by his Majesty's command, printed in 1685, and perhaps compiled from information given by the king himself, the following statement is made:—
"The papers and books that were found on him are since delivered to his Majesty. One of the books was a manuscript of spells, charms, and conjurations, songs, receipts, and prayers, all written with the said late Duke's own hand. Two others were manuscripts of fortification and the military art. And a fourth book, fairly written, wherein are computes of the yearly expense of his Majesty's navy and land forces."
[1] Query, what is the date of the first edition of Welwood's work? The earliest in the Museum library is the third edition, printed in 1700.
It is remarkable that the "pocket-book" mentioned by Welwood is not here specified, but it is possible that the entries quoted by him may have been written on the pages of one of the other books. Two of the above only are noticed by Mr. Macaulay, namely, "a small treatise on fortification," and "an album filled with songs, receipts, prayers, and charms"; and there can be no reasonable doubt that the latter, which is mentioned by the author of the tract in the Harleian Miscellany, as well as by Reresby and Barillon, is the identical manuscript which forms the subject of Dr. Anster's remarks.
Within a few weeks this singular volume has been added by purchase to the National Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum, previous to which I ascertained, by a careful comparison of its pages with several undoubted letters of the Duke of Monmouth (an advantage Dr. Anster did not possess), that the whole of the volume (or nearly so) is certainly in the Duke's handwriting. This evidence might of itself be deemed sufficient; but some lines written on the fly-leaf of the volume (which are passed over by Dr. Anster as of no moment) confirm the fact beyond all cavil, since, on seeing them, I immediately recognised them as the autograph of King James himself. They are as follows:
"This book was found in the Duke of Monmouth's pocket when he was taken, and is most of his owne handwriting."
Although the contents of this volume have been already described in general terms by Dr. Anster, yet it may not perhaps be uninteresting to give a more detailed list of what is written in it:—
1. Receipts "for the stone"; "to know the sum of numbers before they be writ doun"; "pour nettoyer l'ovrages de cuyvre argenté;" "for to make Bouts and Choos [Boots and Shoes] hold out water;" and "to keep the goms well."—pp. 1-4. 8.
2. Magical receipts and charms in French, written partly in an abbreviated form, accompanied by cabalistic figures. Two of these are to deliver a person out of prison, and are no doubt the same which Sir John Reresby refers to.—pp. 5. 7. 9. 11-17.
3. "The forme of a bill of Excheng," drawn on David Nairne of London, from Antwerp, May 16, 1684, for 200l. sterling.—p. 6.
4. Astrological rules in French for finding out anything required; together with a planetary wheel, dated 1680, to show life or death in case of illness, also happiness and adversity.—pp. 19-25.
5. Directions "pour savoire si une person sera fidelle ou non," &c. At the bottom is a cypher, in which a stands for 10, b for 52, &c., p. 27. All this is entered again at pp. 45. 47.
6. "The way from London to East Tilbery," dated December 1, 1684.—p. 29.
7. Prayers for the morning and evening, pp. 31-43.
8. List of the Christian names of women and men.—pp. 44. 46. 48.
9. Arithmetical table of the number 7, multiplied from 1 to 37.—pp. 49. 51.
10. Receipts "to take away a corne;" "a soveraign water of Dr. Stephens;" "to make the face fair;" "to make golden letters without gold;" "to kip iron from rusting;" "to write letters of secrets;" "to make hair grow;" "to make hair grow black, though of any colour;" and several more.—pp. 52-61.
11. Casualties that happened in the reigns of the English sovereigns, from William I. to Queen Mary inclusive; consisting chiefly of remarkable accidents, and reputed prodigies.—pp. 62-78.
12. "Socrates, Platon, Aristote et Ciceron ont fait ces trente Comandemens pour leurs disciples."—pp. 78, 79.
13. "A receipt for the Farcy."—p. 81.
14. A poem intitled "The Twin Flame, sent mee by M P"—pp. 83-91.
The words in Italics have been scribbled over with the pen for the purpose of concealment. The verses commence:
"Fantastick wanton god, what dost thou mean,
To breake my rest, make mee grow pale and lean."
15. Receipts for secret writing, to take impressions of prints upon glass, to boil plate, &c.—pp. 93-98.
16. Several songs in English and French, pp. 99-107.
Among them are the verses printed in "NOTES AND QUERIES," Vol. i., p. 199., beginning "With joie we do leave thee," accompanied by the musical notes; and also a song commencing "All ye gods that ar above," with the musical notes. It is most probable that these songs are copied from printed sources; but as they have been conjectured to be compositions by Monmouth himself, the following short specimen may not be unacceptable, copied literatim.
"O how blest, and how inocent,
and happy is a country life,
free from tumult and discontent;
heer is no flatterys nor strife,
for t'was the first and happiest life,
when first man did injoie him selfe.
This is a better fate than kings,
hence jentle peace and love doth flow,
for fancy is the rate of things;
I'am pleased, because I think it so,
for a hart that is nobly true,
all the world's arts can n'er subdue."
This poem immediately follows the one in which Toddington in Bedfordshire (which the Duke spells, probably as then pronounced, Tedington) is referred to.
17. Prayers after the confession of sins, and the sense of pardon obtained.—pp. 108-125.
These prayers breathe a spirit of the most humble and ardent piety; and if composed by the Duke himself, exhibit the weakness of his character in a more favourable light than the remainder of the volume. One paragraph is striking:—
"Mercy, mercy, good Lord! I aske not of thee any longer the things of this world; neither power, nor honours, nor riches, nor pleasures. No, my God, dispose of them to whom thou pleasest, so that thou givest me mercy."
18. "The Batteryes that can be made at Flushing to keep ships from coming in."—pp. 127, 128.
19. "Traité de la guere ou Politique militaire."—pp. 130-132.
20. "The Rode that is to be taken from Bruxels to Diren, the Pri. of Orange's house."—p. 133.
21. "The Road from Bruxells to Sousdyck, the Prince of Orange his hous."—p. 134.
22. "The way that I tooke from Diren, when I went for England, Nov. the 10. 84."—p. 135.
23. "The way that I took when I came from England, December the 10th. 84."—p. 137.
24. "The way that I took the first day of Jan. n. st. [1684-5] from Bruxells to the Hague."—p. 139.
25. Similar memoranda from 11th to 14th March, 1685, between Antwerp and Dort.—p. 141.
26. The addresses of various persons in Holland, London, Paris, and elsewhere, to whom letters were to be written, 1685.—pp. 142. 147-155.
27. "The footway from Trogou to Amsterdam."—p. 143.
28. An obscure memorandum, as follows:—"1683. Munday the 5th of November. H. W. had T.—The 9th of November, Poupe.—The 16th of November, Poupe."—p. 156.
29. Value of duckatons, pistols, and gilders.—Ib.
30. Note of the route from London to Tedington.—p. 157.
Although this volume is not of the same historical value as the Diary mentioned by Welwood, yet it is a curious and interesting relic of the unfortunate man who possessed it, and whose want of education, superstition, and frivolity are so prominently displayed in its pages. As to its recent history, Dr. Anster states that it was purchased at a book-stall in Paris, in 1827, by an Irish divinity student; the same, probably, who has written his name at p. 90.: "John Barrette, Irish College, Paris, Dec. 31, 1837."—The same person has made a memorandum in pencil, at p. 1., which has subsequently been partially rubbed out, and, as far as now legible, is as follows:—
"This Book was found in ... of the English College in Paris, among other MSS. deposited there by James II."
An earlier hand has scribbled a list of the contents at the commencement, with the signature "S. Rutter." If King James deposited this volume in the College at Paris, in all probability the others found on the person of the Duke of Monmouth accompanied it, and may one day or other turn up as unexpectedly as the present book has done.
F. MADDEN.
British Museum, June 27.