Elizabeth Lyttelton: Commonplace book

Scope and Content

A manuscript commonplace book, 87 leaves, containing poetical extracts, prose fragments and religious aphorisms and verse, written from both ends of the volume. The book was kept for the benefit of the daughters of Sir Thomas Browne, and was principally the property of his daughter Elizabeth. It contains pieces by and relating to Sir Thomas Browne, including a poem and piece of prose by him, although none of the writing is in Browne's hand. The name of his daughter Mary (d. 1676) is written on the flyleaf at both ends of the volume.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Acquisition Information

An inscription on the last leaf of the book records that is was presented by Elizabeth Lyttelton to her first cousin, Edward Tension (1673-1735), in March 1714. On the first leaf of the volume is the name James Dodsley, who may also have owned the book. Received by the University Library from the library of Sir Geoffrey Keynes, 1982.

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

Alternative Form Available

Microfilm available

Related Material

Cambridge University Library holds a manuscript version of Sir Thomas Browne's Religio medici, MS.Add.8459.

Bibliography

The commonplace book of Elizabeth Lyttelton was published by Cambridge University Press in 1919. The book is no. 1301 in Sir Geoffrey Keynes, Bibliotheca bibliographici (London, 1964), p. 134.