RESTRICTED: Extremely fragile. Use digital reproduction. Original available by special permission only.

Notebook of John Ward [manuscript], 1662-1663.

1 v. (179 leaves) ; 147 x 90 mm

A continuation of the two previous volume (Folger MS V.a.290-V.a.291), opening as a diary of Ward's stay in London with notes on many aspects of the natural sciences, medicine and its history, chemistry, and botany. Ward's chief purpose as he here remarks is to "studie such diseases as are peculiar to women and also to children and furnish myself so as to be ready especialy att [the]m when I come into [th]e country" (leaf 18v). Numerous references to London chemists and physicians (leaves 1r-130v, passim) and many notes on the botanical ideas of Edward Morgan and Robert Morison (leaves 27v-107, passim), with accounts of visits to their gardens, as well as Brook's (in Holburn) and Drapers' (in Throgmorton). Extensive extracts from Boyle's Sceptical Chymist (75r-107r, passim) and from Velthusius's Tractatus duo. Ward also writes about visiting St. Thomas' hospital and mentions Thomas Wharton and Mr. Hollyer (leaf 1r); watching demonstrations and hearing lectures at Barber-Surgeon's Hall (leaves 15v, 32v); seeing the beheading of Sir Henry Vane (leaf 64v), Jewish worship, Ben Jonson's Alchemist (leaf 117v); inquiring into the nature of the London companies. Also includes comments on the sermons he heard, among them ones by Baxter (leaf 14) and Ought (leaf 22v), libraries (leaf 170v), and the books he was reading or meant to read.
Additional names mentioned include Mr. Blunden "the best chemist in England," Dr. Currie, the greatest physician in London, Mr. Boghil (Robert Boyle), Elias Ashmole, Jonathan Goddard, Sir Charles Scarburgh, Christopher Terne, John Fryer, Nathaniel Hodges, Sir Francis Prujean, John Earle, John Bathurst, Sir Theodore Turquet de Mayerne, Peter Chamberlen, Sir John Micklethwaite, Robert Fludd, George Starkey, Thomas Gumble, Sir Thomas Browne, Anthony Burgess, Francis Cheynell, John Trapp, William Pemble, William Tooker, Thomas James, Charles Butler as well as Leland, Rabelais, Hakluyt, Sir Thomas More, Edward Alleyn, Sir John Suckling, Francis Quarles, Beaumont and Fletcher, and Thomas Randolph. (List derived from typescript without folio references)

In English and Latin.

Several references to Shakespeare, including a reference to his daughters (specifically Susanna's marriage to Dr. Hall) (leaf 138v), a report of Shakespeare's "natural wit" and his earnings with a memorandum "rememb[e]r to peruse Shakespear's plays and bee versed in [the]m [tha]t I may not bee ignorant in [tha]t matter" (both on leaf 140r), and commentary on the circumstances of Shakespeare's death (leaf 150r).
Note on leaf 179v: "This Booke was begunne ffeb. 14 1661 and finished April 25 1663 att Mr. Brooks his ho[use] in Stratford uppon Avon in Warwicke-shire."
Initials "I. W." stamped in gold on cover.
List of contents partially derived from typescript description. Specific location of some references not verified.
One of several volumes, originally 17 in number, known as "Ward's Diary." 16 of these volumes are now Folger MS V.a.284-299.
For a microfilm copy of D'Arcy Power's transcript of this and 5 other John Ward notebooks, see Folger Film Acc. 683 (original typescripts held at the Wellcome Trust).

Frank, R.G. Journal of the History of Medicine, 29 (1974).
Shakespeare quarterly, VIII (1957), p. 460, 520, 526.
Kennedy-Skipton, A.L.D. "John Ward and Restoration drama" Shakespeare quarterly, XI (1960), p. 493-494.
Kennedy-Skipton, A.L.D. "A footnote to John Ward and Restoration drama" Shakespeare quarterly, XII (1961), p. 353.
Yeandle, Laetitia. "Shakespeare allusions." Shakespeare quarterly, XX (1969), p. 87-88.
Extracts included in Diary of the Rev. John Ward, A.M. : vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon, extending from 1648 to 1679 ... / arranged by Charles Severn (London : H. Colburn, 1839).

Medical Society of London MS -- Dr. J.A.S.N. Rosenbach, of New York (Sotheby's, London, April 4, 1928, lot 631).
Formerly Folger MS 2073.5.

Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library. Shakespeare: the Globe and the World, 1979-1982.
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2002. "The pen's excellencie" : treasures from the manuscript collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library (catalog p. 7).
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2016.Shakespeare, Life of an Icon. January 20th-March 27th ,2016.Opening: account of Shakespeare's death.

Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691. Sceptical chymist. Selections.
Velthuysen, Lambert van, 1622-1685. Tractatus duo medico-physici. Selections.

Folgerpedia article about Folger Shakespeare Library V.a.292 (with partial transcription)
Digital image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library V.a.292

Great Britain -- England.

V.a.292

cs2073