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Two plays, probably written for the Twelfth night revels at St. John's college at Oxford

 Single Item
MS. Bodl. 30
Held at the Weston Library

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Two plays, probably written for the Twelfth night revels at St. John's college at Oxford, the first in about 1610, the second perhaps later (in about 1620-30?):

  1. (fol. 2)' ΦΥΣI Ξ ΠONO Ξ MAXIA', dedicated to dr. John Buckeridge, president of St. John's college (1605-11): at foot 'C. Wrenn', i.e. Christopher Wrenn, matr. at St. John's Oct. 1608, B.A. June 1609, father of sir Christopher. This is a Latin comedy in iambics, consisting of a contest between Ponophilus and Anchinræs (representing respectively 'Ingenium' and 'Labor'), in ten scenes with prologue (beg. 'Hic constitutus est locus, et hic est dies'). Fol. 7 is imperfect, three or four lines being lost on each side at the top.
  2. (fol. 13) 'Grobiana's Nuptialls', an English play, coarse in language and thought, in nine scenes with prologue (beg. 'Grob: Had you had a prologue I had not enter'd') and epilogue descriptive of Grobian ways. Fol. 18v is in a different hand from the rest of the play.

Dates

  • Creation: Written partly in about 1610 (partly perhaps later) in two hands

Extent

28 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • Latin
  • English
  • Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Bodl. 30, fols. 1-2]

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Shelfmark:

MS. Bodl. 30

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 18420

Abstract

Two plays, probably written for the Twelfth night revels at St. John's college at Oxford, the first in about 1610, the second perhaps later (in about 1620-30?).

Biographical / Historical

Biographical details unknown.

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. V, no. 27639.

Custodial History

At the end (deleted) is 'William Taylor et Roger Shipman', who perhaps owned the book, or possibly copied into it the second part. Both were of St. John's college (Taylor matr. Dec. 1636, Shipman May 1637).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

'Junij 30. mdccxiii. Bibliothccæ Bodlejanæ: Dono dedit Juvenis egregius Thomas Wagstaffe, Thomæ fil. natu max:', note in Hearne's hand.

Physical Facet

On paper

Dimensions

7 7/8 × 6 1/8 in.

Title
Two plays, probably written for the Twelfth night revels at St. John's college at Oxford
Status
Published
Date
EAD version 2020 by Pauline Soum-Paris
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom