The Williams Manuscript, Edmund Duncon, and Herbert's Quotidian Fever

Abstract

Certain events ettend the existence of en eerly end incomplete menuscript of Herbert's religious lyrics. Known es the Williems menuscript (W) from its current piece in Dr. Williems's Library in London, it beers no title end contains only 69 of the 164 poems in The Temple (Cambridge, 1633). The handwriting is thet of en amanuensis with corrections and emendations by George Herbert himself.1 Like the Bodleien menuscript (B), it elso came from Little Gidding, where it passed into the hands of the Mapletoft family, Judith Mapletoft being e niece of Nicholes Ferrer, founder of the religious community.