Item 18 (Prophecy, Narrative), fol. 31v

A description of a boy's death following a mysterious voice's warning.

In April 1666 a boy was playing at St Andrews church

...

It was a hollow sound the voice.

Item 21 (Prophecy, Narrative), fol. 33v

Story of Mr Chainy. Near Chattame.

Mr Chany a gentleman in Queen Elizabeth's time when she was at Tilbury

...

Upon his tomb near Chattame is the picture in stone of a horse's head in memory of this remarkable ingratitude.

Item 6 (Memorandum, Narrative), back pastedown-back flyleaf v

Memorandum October the Eighth 1710.

My Cousin Clinton (alias Hancock) told me that five year ago, soon after she was married; stopping in the street while a coach crossed the way; an old gentleman said to her, Mrs you need not be in fear of a coach, for you shall keep one with horses before you die.

...

This I set down, that it may hereafter be seen, what comes of the matter-----

[

This is the first item in the reversed section of the manuscript.

Preceded by blank back pastedown and flyleaf r [rev].

Item 31 (historical, Narrative), pp.27-29[rev]

An account of the Duke of Monmouth's trial

In his trial we are told, that when the Duke of Monmouth was to be executed, his present Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury with others were appointed by the King to attend him.

...

Then my Lord, we can only recommend you to the mercy of God; but we cannot pray with that cheerfulness and encouragement as we should if you had made a particular acknowledgement ----

Methinks, this was barbarous teasing of a dying man.

[The final rubric appears to be a note added by Cowper.]

Item 39 (Prose, Narrative), pp.40-41[rev]

The Parish Clerk of Bromley

The parish clerk of Bromley near Bow pretends to have a mighty knack at suiting his psalms to the times, and is well versed in Sternhold and Hopkins.

...

So that unluckily, his friends were as much disobliged by this verse which they thought hit themselves; as they were pleased with the other, which they conceived was a home stroke upon their adversaries.

[The rubric is from Cowper's table of contents.]

Item 47 (Narrative), p.48[rev]

The Ass

I was told that Dr Harris (whom I take to be a better mathematician than a divine) should say he saw a man who had dressed up an ape in a fine coat with a shoulder knot, and a broad brimmed hat such as the French here wear;

...

and having set him on an ass led him up Ormond Street - saying, see here, the French Monsieur riding the English gentleman - viz: an ass ---

[

The rubric is in the margin.

This is the entire entry.

Item 57 (Prose, Narrative), pp.59-60[rev]

Note

King Charles the First being at Oxford went to see the public library.

...

Prelude of bloody fields and fights to come.

[

The rubric is in the margin.

The explicit is a quotation from Virgil's Aeneid. Cowper actually quotes from John Dryden's translation, IV.880-892 and XI.230-237, although this would not have been available to Charles I.

Item 63 (Political writing, Narrative), p.65[rev]

Account of a discussion in the House of Lords

'Tis said that when some noble peers were speaking in the House against a separate peace; The Lord Treasurer, in his speech for it said, that none but fools, and knaves and villains could be averse to it.

...

Upon which Lord Wharton stood up, and pulling forth his pocket book before 'em all, said, he would there set down and preserve, that wise and honest sentence ---

[This is the entire entry.]

Item 36.1 (Letter, Narrative), fol.[88r]

October the 20th in 1701.

We have account that a large company of men seemingly have been seen frequently on the dry sands near Penbree to the number of 2 or 300 which continuing these 3 weeks almost daily have been seen by very many people.

...

I don't understand of any that have been nearer than a quarter of a mile to them, though they have appeared several times in a day and half an hour at a time.

This was writ in a letter by a lady an acquaintance of the Lady Francis Vaughan from whom I had it. S.C.

Item 36.2 (Letter, Narrative), fol.[88r-v]

Another account of the same from Carmarthen Town, by a Friend to Mrs Howel.----

All people here are affrighted because of an apparition of two armies seen upon the shore within six miles of this place.

...

All those that have the curiosity to see it may, for it appears by day as well as in the night

I waive to set down the conjectures which pass upon these things since events are only known to God. S.C.

Item 55 (Narrative, Travel writing), fols [19r-49v][rev]

Collection of travel narratives containing fantastic claims about foreign lands.

Iambulus his navigation to Arabia and Ethiopia and thence to a strange island where the men exceed us four cubits in stature.

...

Estoitland a province in America is affirmed by Matthias Quadus, and J. Antonius Maginus to have been the first discovered country of the New world and that by Antonius Zenu a patrician of Venice in the year of our Lord 1390 which was long before the expedition of Columbus, through the encouragement of Zichmus King of the Isle of Friesland

[Between fols 38 and 39[rev], a scrap of paper has been inserted with the heading "The Mark of Oanehkov" over a picture of a bird pricked out in holes. This probably was meant to accompany item 62.]

Item 58 (Speech, Narrative), fols [54v-56r][rev]

A description of a speech made on behalf of Titus Oates

A Speech said to be made by the Lord North and Grey

The first that appeared to honour the cause was the noble peer Charles Lord North and Grey.

...

he really was a witness on my side and confirmed Mr Grey's testimony destroying the doctor's plea.

Item 63 (Prophecy, Narrative), fols [61v-62r]

A Prophecy

In King James the First's time a fool whose name was Nixon that was kept in the Cholmley family came in from the plough in the field, laid down the things in his hands and said now I will prophecy,

...

the cook one day locked him up, and the King going on a sudden from Hampton Court to London, they forgot the fool and he was really starved indeed.

Item 66 (Narrative), fol.[64r][rev]

Description of two bejewelled angel statues in the chapel at Loretto, erected through money donated by Queen Mary, wife of James II

In the Chapel of the Holy House at Loretto, near the Madonna are two angels,

...

The virgin sent the Queen in return, one of her vests of silk handsomely embroidered, not very rich nor valuable in itself, but coming from thence and having her benediction made it very acceptable

Item 67 (Narrative), fol.[64v][rev]

Description of a painting of King James II

In the magnificent palace of the Barbarini is the picture of our King (James) on horseback.

...

one has a mask in its hand to signify the extirpating and unmasking of heresy by the French king; which were continued though the picture changed.

This I collected out of the Grand Tour writ by Mr Bromley in the year 1691. And must observe who he called our king all that time. He now stood candidate at the election for a speaker to this present House of Parliament 1705 , but lost it.

[The final rubric appears to be a note added by Cowper.]

Item 71 (Prophecy, Narrative), fols [66v-67v][rev]

Interpretation of an earlier prophecy as being fulfilled in present times

Mrs Chute, sister to Mrs Cholmondly, of Val Royal, related to me, all your ladyship has set down in Nickson's prophecy,

...

But that George, the son of George, would make it a flourishing kingdom, and then foretells all sorts of prosperity, and glory, to England for a long time /

[

This entry is written in a slightly more formal hand than the rest of the reversed items.

Followed by blank fols [123v-105v].

Item 68 (historical, Narrative), pp.367-368

The signal victory obtained by Charles the 3d King of Sweden over the Czar.

His Swedish Majesty thoroughly sensible of the vast disproportion that there was between his own army and the numerous forces of the enemy,

...

Let us praise famous men.

King Sweden December 1700 Victory

I have writ this narration as an evident instance of the works of providence, and to observe that in this degenerate age there are those who do acknowledge and implore the help of divine assistance

[

The king in question actually was Charles XII of Sweden.

The final rubric appears to be a note added by Cowper.

Item 16 (historical, Narrative), pp.345-346

Sleeping Preacher

In the reign of King James a strange fancy possessed the brains of a professed physician one Richard Haidock of New College in Oxford who pretended to preach at night in his sleep

...

the king granted upon condition that in all places he should openly acknowledge his offence because many were brought into belief that his nightly preaching was either by inspiration or by vision.

Item 17 (historical, Narrative), pp.346-347

Lions

King James to observe the nature of the lion went to the Tower and caused two lions a male and female to be put forth and then a live cock to be cast afore them which they (as being their natural enemy) presently killed and sucked his blood.

...

yet it seems they were his matches in courage and so much superior as that they were the first assailants with whom otherwise perhaps the lion would not have offered to meddle.

Item 32 (historical, Narrative), p.384

Plague

In the year 1541 the plague reigning at Geneva, covetousness so prevailed with the poor people who were employed to attend the rich in their sickness and to cleanse their houses,

...

It is almost incredible what envy and reproach this act brought upon Geneva and especially upon Calvin, as if the Devil should rule there altogether where he was most opposed.

[The rubric is in the shaky hand characteristic of Cowper's writing after 1705.]

Item 33 (historical, Narrative), pp.384-385

Observe

Luther fell sick of a congealing of blood about his heart, but by the drinking of the water of Carduss Benedictus he recovered.

...

This was beheld with great admiration and carried to the Vice Chancellor and after reprinted.

[The rubric is in the shaky hand characteristic of Cowper's writing after 1705.]

Item 5.7 (Argument, Narrative), pp.146-148

Psalmanazar

The Lutheran is liable to many of the same absurdities with the Romish doctrine about the Eucharist, because consubstantiation denies the certainty of our senses in the proper objects, and consequently destroys the great evidence of the Christian religion.

...

A religion that was not embarrassed with any of those absurdities which are maintained by the many various sects in Christendom whereof he gave me a scheme in a mathematical method by way of definitions axioms, postulata, and propositions whereby I was through God's mercy delivered from the errors and superstitions of my pagan religion.

[The rubric is in the margin.]

Item 7 (historical, Narrative), pp.342-347

Thoughts on China, ending with some maxims of Confucius

History of China For the well succeeding in judicial astrology, it sufficeth to be an able deceiver, and to have a knack of lying handsomely, which no nation can dispute with China.

...

It would be an unhappiness for us to be like the wicked that fall but once, because the first precipice stops them, but honest good men that continue walking, fall often.

Item 3 (Translation, historical, Narrative), fols. 3-241v

Not without some reason, may any man reprehend me

...

Then followed the Egyptian bondage, where all cruelty was exercised against

[The text is incomplete. It continues in the companion manuscript, Cambridge University MS Dd 1.19. ]

Item 2 (historical, Narrative), fols. 1r-241v

Epitome of History

The two Armies being now come to a clear entreview

...

and reserve the encounter for the history following.

[The manuscript has been misbound. Fols. 95-241 properly belong before fols. 1r-94v. Fols. 95v-241v pick up the text at the point in History 16 where Dd.1.18 breaks off and conclude at the end of History 19. Fols. 1-94 contain the first part of History 20. The continuation of History 16 starts in Hand B (fols. 95v-108v). The rest of the manuscript (fols. 109v-190v and fols. 1r-94v) is in Hand A. Fols. 1r, 95r and and 190v are badly discoloured, suggesting that they functioned as wrappers for the manuscript at various stages in its history.]